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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice
Published on: June 19, 2019
Nigrostriatal and mesolimbic control of sleep-wake behavior in rat
Mei-Hong Qiu1,2, Zhi-Gang Zhong3, Michael C Chen4
1Department of Neurobiology, Institute for Basic Research on Aging and Medicine, and Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Rm 115, Building 7, 138 YiXueYuan Rd, Shanghai, 200032, China. mhqiu@shmu.edu.cn.
Abstract:
The midbrain dopamine system via the dorsal and ventral striatum regulates a wide range of behaviors. To dissect the role of dopaminergic projections to the dorsal striatum (nigrostriatal projection) and ventral striatum (mesolimbic projection) in sleep-wake behavior, we selectively chemogenetically stimulated nigrostriatal or mesolimbic projections and examined the resulting effects on sleep in rats. Stimulation of nigrostriatal pathways increased sleep and EEG delta power, while stimulation of mesolimbic pathways decreased sleep and reduced cortical EEG power. These results indicate that midbrain dopamine signaling in the dorsal or ventral striatum promotes sleep or wake, respectively.
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