The effect of baclofen on alterations in the sleep patterns induced by different stressors in rats

We have previously reported that sleep patterns are significantly affected by both physical and psychological stress induced by a communication box; however, the mechanism by which stress alters sleep patterns was not established. In the present study, we investigated the role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), acting through the GABA(B) receptor, on stress-induced changes in sleep patterns. Our results show that physical stress increased the total wakefulness time by increasing sleep latency and inhibiting both rapid eye movement (REM) and non rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep during a 6 h sleep-recording period. The GABA(B) agonist baclofen (20 pmol/2 microl) attenuated the effects of physical stress on sleep latency, total wakefulness, and NREM sleep, but not total REM sleep. In contrast, psychological stress enhanced total REM sleep and shortened REM sleep latency without altering other sleep patterns. The effect of psychological stress on total REM sleep was also reversed by baclofen. These results suggest that GABA via GABA(B) receptors may play a role in the regulation of specific sleep patterns by both physical and psychological stress.