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Increased REM sleep in rats selectively bred for cholinergic hyperactivity.
P J Shiromani1, D Overstreet, D Levy
1Department of Psychiatry, San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center, California 92061.
Summary
Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats exhibit altered sleep patterns, specifically increased rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep. This finding in a depression model suggests FSL rats are valuable for studying REM sleep regulation in neurological disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
- Animal Models
Background:
- The Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rat is selectively bred for hypersensitivity to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
- FSL rats exhibit behavioral and neuroendocrine traits resembling clinical depression.
- These rats possess increased muscarinic receptor density in the striatum and hippocampus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sleep architecture of FSL rats.
- To compare the sleep profiles of FSL rats with control Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats.
- To explore the utility of FSL rats as a model for studying REM sleep abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Continuous 48-hour electroencephalogram (EEG) sleep recordings were performed.
- Sleep stages, including REM sleep, drowsy sleep, and slow-wave sleep, were analyzed.
- Quantitative comparison of sleep parameters between FSL and FRL rats.
Main Results:
- FSL rats showed a significantly higher percentage of REM sleep compared to FRL rats.
- REM sleep latency was significantly shorter in FSL rats.
- REM-REM cycle length was significantly faster in FSL rats.
- No significant differences were observed in total sleep time, drowsy sleep, or slow-wave sleep.
Conclusions:
- The FSL rat exhibits a distinct sleep phenotype characterized by increased REM sleep.
- Findings support the role of cholinergic mechanisms in promoting REM sleep.
- FSL rats may serve as a valuable model for investigating the mechanisms underlying short REM latency in depression and narcolepsy.