Sleep fragmentation reduces explorative behaviors and impairs motor coordination in male mice

Sleep fragmentation (SF), which refers to discontinuous and fragmented sleep, induces cognitive impairment and anxiety-like behavior in mice. However, whether SF can affect motor capability in healthy young wild-type mice and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We performed seven days of sleep fragmentation (SF 7d) interventions in young wild-type male mice. While SF mice experienced regular sleep disruption between Zeitgeber time (ZT) 0-12, control mice were allowed to have natural sleep (NS) cycles. Homecage analysis and conventional behavioral tests were conducted to assess the behavioral alterations in behavioral patterns in general and motor-related behaviors. Sleep structures and the power spectrum of electroencephalograms (EEGs) were compared between SF 7d and NS groups. Neuronal activation was measured using c-Fos immunostaining and quantified in multiple brain regions. SF of 7 days significantly decreased bouts of rearing and sniffing and the duration of rearing and impaired motor coordination. An increase in the total sleep time and a decrease in wakefulness between ZT12-24 was found in SF 7d mice. In SF 7d mice, EEG beta1 power was increased in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep while theta power was decreased during wakefulness. SF 7d resulted in significant suppression in c-Fos (+) cell counts in the motor cortex and hippocampus but an increase in c-Fos (+) cell counts in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). In summary, SF 7d suppressed explorative behaviors and impaired motor coordination as compared to NS. EEG power and altered neuronal activity detected by c-Fos staining might contribute to the behavioral changes.