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Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Localization of the Locus Coeruleus in the Mouse Brain
Published on: March 7, 2019
Activation of locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons rapidly drives homeostatic sleep pressure
Abstract:
Homeostatic sleep regulation is essential for optimizing the amount and timing of sleep, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Optogenetic activation of locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons immediately increased sleep propensity following transient wakefulness. Fiber photometry showed that repeated optogenetic or sensory stimulation caused rapid declines of locus coeruleus calcium activity and noradrenaline release. This suggests that functional fatigue of noradrenergic neurons, which reduces their wake-promoting capacity, contributes to sleep pressure.
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