Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Neurotransmitters01:31

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.
Neurotransmitters01:30

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters play a crucial role in the communication between neurons in the autonomic nervous system. Neurons in the autonomic nervous system can be cholinergic or adrenergic depending on the neurotransmitters synthesized. Cholinergic neurons use acetylcholine as their primary neurotransmitter. This includes all the preganglionic fibers of the sympathetic and pre- and postganglionic fibers of the parasympathetic nervous systems. In addition, neurons of the somatic nervous system also use...
Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview01:23

Sedatives and Hypnotics: Overview

Sedatives are drugs that alleviate anxiety, while hypnotics induce sleep. Both classes of medication suppress neuronal activity, leading to a calming effect for sedatives and facilitating sleep for hypnotics.
Sedative-hypnotics are categorized into barbiturates, benzodiazepines (BZDs), and non-benzodiazepines or Z-drugs. These drugs work by suppressing central nervous system activity, and this suppression is dose-dependent. Older sedative medications, like barbiturates, follow a linear curve in...
Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake01:21

Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake

Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...
CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine01:27

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Diagnostic Uncertainty in Severe Pneumonia: How much can bronchoscopy refine our gestalt?

Annals of the American Thoracic Society·2026
Same author

In Pursuit of Excellence: The Past, Present, and Future of Quality Improvement in Pneumonia.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026
Same author

Pneumonia Reimagined: Host, Microbe, and the Shifting Landscape of Disease.

Clinics in chest medicine·2026
Same author

Health, economic, and equity impact of a COVID-19 mobile vaccine clinic program in US: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Lancet regional health. Americas·2026
Same author

Effectiveness of mobile vaccine clinics on COVID-19 vaccination uptake in the USA: an observational study.

BMJ public health·2026
Same author

Summary for Clinicians: Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Community-acquired Pneumonia.

Annals of the American Thoracic Society·2026
Same journal

Fast-conducting mechanonociceptors uniquely engage reflexive and affective pain circuitry to drive protective responses.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Sparse component analysis: A method that uncovers separable computations within neural population activity.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Spatiomolecular mapping reveals anatomical organization of heterogeneous cell types in the human nucleus accumbens.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

TGF-β1-induced endothelial transcytosis drives blood-brain barrier leakage during aging.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Image space opens up for visual neuroscience.

Neuron·2026
Same journal

Septal GLP-1 receptors control alcohol taking and seeking.

Neuron·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Electrocorticographic Recording of Cerebral Cortex Areas Manipulated Using an Adeno-Associated Virus Targeting Cofilin in Mice
08:44

Electrocorticographic Recording of Cerebral Cortex Areas Manipulated Using an Adeno-Associated Virus Targeting Cofilin in Mice

Published on: February 21, 2021

Glia, adenosine, and sleep.

Barbara E Jones1

  • 1Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada. barbara.jones@mcgill.ca

Neuron
|February 3, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sleep homeostasis relies on gliotransmission and adenosine accumulation, not just neurons. This process dampens neuronal activity, regulating sleep duration.

More Related Videos

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

Preparation of Acute Brain Slices Using an Optimized N-Methyl-D-glucamine Protective Recovery Method
10:53

Preparation of Acute Brain Slices Using an Optimized N-Methyl-D-glucamine Protective Recovery Method

Published on: February 26, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Electrocorticographic Recording of Cerebral Cortex Areas Manipulated Using an Adeno-Associated Virus Targeting Cofilin in Mice
08:44

Electrocorticographic Recording of Cerebral Cortex Areas Manipulated Using an Adeno-Associated Virus Targeting Cofilin in Mice

Published on: February 21, 2021

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

Preparation of Acute Brain Slices Using an Optimized N-Methyl-D-glucamine Protective Recovery Method
10:53

Preparation of Acute Brain Slices Using an Optimized N-Methyl-D-glucamine Protective Recovery Method

Published on: February 26, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Sleep Science
  • Cellular Biology

Background:

  • The homeostatic regulation of sleep has traditionally been attributed to neuronal adenosine signaling.
  • Adenosine accumulation in the brain is a key indicator of sleep pressure.

Discussion:

  • This study challenges the neuron-centric view of sleep homeostasis.
  • It highlights the critical role of glial cells and gliotransmission in sleep regulation.
  • Adenosine accumulation mediated by glial cells is shown to be crucial for dampening neuronal excitability.

Key Insights:

  • Sleep homeostasis is dependent on gliotransmission, a process involving the release of substances from glial cells.
  • Glial adenosine accumulation, rather than solely neuronal adenosine, plays a pivotal role in regulating sleep.
  • This glial mechanism effectively dampens neuronal excitability, contributing to sleep regulation.

Outlook:

  • Further research into glial contributions to neurological disorders is warranted.
  • Exploring therapeutic strategies targeting gliotransmission for sleep disturbances is a potential avenue.
  • Understanding the neuron-glia communication in sleep offers new insights into brain function.