Drug effects on sleep-wakefulness patterns in dogs

Sleep-wakefulness patterns in dogs were studied using computerized on-line analysis and off-line sleep stage classification. A short description of the methods is given and the results of the analysis are discussed, touching on the problem of similarities and dissimilarities with sleep-wakefulness patterns in cats. Examples are given of species differences with respect to the effects of narcotic analgesics. The predictability of results obtained in the dog with respect to humans is discussed using as an example the sedative effects of antihistamines and the absence of such effects in response to a specific H1-antagonist, astemizole. The role of neurotransmitters in sleep is studied, especially the role of dopamine by using dopamine antagonists (pimozide, domperidone) and dopamine agonists (apomorphine).