The effects of REM sleep deprivation on striatal dopamine receptor sites

3H-Spiroperidol binding to dopamine receptor sites of rat striatal tissue was studied following 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation (REM dep.). The density of dopamine receptor binding sites (Bmax) was decreased after 48, 72, and 96 hr of REM dep. The apparent dissociation constant (KD) decreased after 96 hr, indicating an increase in apparent affinities. The control experimental animals also presented a time-dependent decrease of Bmax and KD as compared to unhandled controls. These results suggest that dopaminergic mechanisms may indeed be involved in the effects of REM sleep deprivation and/or stress.