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Ventilatory behavior during sleep among A/J and C57BL/6J mouse strains
Lee Friedman1, Abby Haines, Ken Klann
1The MIND Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87106, USA.
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|October 12, 2004
Summary
Genetic background influences breathing patterns during sleep. Different inbred mouse strains show distinct respiratory frequencies and heart rates between non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep states.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Genetics
- Sleep Science
Background:
- Breathing patterns during sleep are potentially heritable.
- Inbred mouse strains exhibit variations in wakefulness breathing patterns.
- Investigating if these variations persist into sleep states is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the genetic hypothesis of breathing patterns during sleep.
- To determine if wakefulness breathing differences in mouse strains persist into NREM and REM sleep.
- To analyze ventilatory behavior and metabolism across sleep states and strains.
Main Methods:
- Utilized inbred mouse strains (C57BL/6J and two A/J substrains).
- Measured ventilatory behavior (frequency, tidal volume, minute ventilation, inspiratory flow, duty cycle) and metabolism via plethysmography.
- Instrumented animals for simultaneous EEG, electromyogram, and heart rate recording.
Main Results:
- Minute ventilation and CO2 production decreased in NREM and further in REM sleep across all strains.
- Respiratory frequency showed significant strain and state-by-strain interactions.
- Heart rate varied significantly by strain, state, and their interaction, decreasing in NREM sleep for A/J Harlan and B6 strains.
Conclusions:
- Genetic background significantly impacts breathing characteristics during both NREM and REM sleep.
- Observed differences in respiratory frequency and heart rate highlight the role of genetics in sleep breathing regulation.
- These findings support the heritability of sleep-related breathing traits.