[Effect of vincamine on sleep-wakefulness equilibrium in the cat (author's transl)]

Intra-muscular vincamine in the cat (chronic experimental preparation) causes a change in the equilibrium between sleep and wakefulness. This consists of: (1) an increase in the amount of wakefulness, the duration of which depends on the dose injected (5-10 mg/kg) and the mode of injection (more effective when given in two doses than all at once); (2) a decrease in slow wave sleep (SWS) which often has the appearance of phasic slow wave sleep; (3) a transitory suppression of paradoxical sleep (PS). At the time of recovery there is no rebound either of SWS or PS. The mechanism of vinacamine's action is not understood and some interpretations are suggested.