1
|
Su YJ, Yi PL, Chang FC. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Ameliorates Stress-Induced Sleep Disruption via Activating Infralimbic-Ventrolateral Preoptic Projections. Brain Sci 2024; 14:105. [PMID: 38275525 PMCID: PMC10813929 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14010105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is acknowledged for its non-invasive modulation of neuronal activity in psychiatric disorders. However, its application in insomnia research yields varied outcomes depending on different tDCS types and patient conditions. Our primary objective is to elucidate its efficiency and uncover the underlying mechanisms in insomnia treatment. We hypothesized that anodal prefrontal cortex stimulation activates glutamatergic projections from the infralimbic cortex (IL) to the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) to promote sleep. After administering 0.06 mA of electrical currents for 8 min, our results indicate significant non-rapid eye movement (NREM) enhancement in naïve mice within the initial 3 h post-stimulation, persisting up to 16-24 h. In the insomnia group, tDCS enhanced NREM sleep bout numbers during acute stress response and improved NREM and REM sleep duration in subsequent acute insomnia. Sleep quality, assessed through NREM delta powers, remains unaffected. Interference of the IL-VLPO pathway, utilizing designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) with the cre-DIO system, partially blocked tDCS's sleep improvement in stress-induced insomnia. This study elucidated that the activation of the IL-VLPO pathway mediates tDCS's effect on stress-induced insomnia. These findings support the understanding of tDCS effects on sleep disturbances, providing valuable insights for future research and clinical applications in sleep therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jie Su
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106216, Taiwan;
| | - Pei-Lu Yi
- Department of Sport Management, College of Tourism, Leisure and Sports, Aletheia University, Taipei 251306, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Chia Chang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106216, Taiwan;
- Neurobiology and Cognitive Science Center, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106216, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City 404328, Taiwan
- Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung City 404328, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106216, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kostin A, Alam MA, Saevskiy A, Yang C, Golshani P, Alam MN. Calcium Dynamics of the Ventrolateral Preoptic GABAergic Neurons during Spontaneous Sleep-Waking and in Response to Homeostatic Sleep Demands. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:8311. [PMID: 37176016 PMCID: PMC10179316 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) contains GABAergic sleep-active neurons. However, the extent to which these neurons are involved in expressing spontaneous sleep and homeostatic sleep regulatory demands is not fully understood. We used calcium (Ca2+) imaging to characterize the activity dynamics of VLPO neurons, especially those expressing the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) across spontaneous sleep-waking and in response to homeostatic sleep demands. The VLPOs of wild-type and VGAT-Cre mice were transfected with GCaMP6, and the Ca2+ fluorescence of unidentified (UNID) and VGAT cells was recorded during spontaneous sleep-waking and 3 h of sleep deprivation (SD) followed by 1 h of recovery sleep. Although both VGAT and UNID neurons exhibited heterogeneous Ca2+ fluorescence across sleep-waking, the majority of VLPO neurons displayed increased activity during nonREM/REM (VGAT, 120/303; UNID, 39/106) and REM sleep (VGAT, 32/303; UNID, 19/106). Compared to the baseline waking, VLPO sleep-active neurons (n = 91) exhibited higher activity with increasing SD that remained elevated during the recovery period. These neurons also exhibited increased Ca2+ fluorescence during nonREM sleep, marked by increased slow-wave activity and REM sleep during recovery after SD. These findings support the notion that VLPO sleep-active neurons, including GABAergic neurons, are components of neuronal circuitry that mediate spontaneous sleep and homeostatic responses to sustained wakefulness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrey Kostin
- Research Service (151A3), Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA; (A.K.); (M.A.A.); (P.G.)
| | - Md. Aftab Alam
- Research Service (151A3), Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA; (A.K.); (M.A.A.); (P.G.)
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Anton Saevskiy
- Scientific Research and Technology Center for Neurotechnology, Southern Federal University, 344006 Rostov-on-Don, Russia;
| | - Chenyi Yang
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
| | - Peyman Golshani
- Research Service (151A3), Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA; (A.K.); (M.A.A.); (P.G.)
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Md. Noor Alam
- Research Service (151A3), Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA; (A.K.); (M.A.A.); (P.G.)
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kostin A, Alam MA, Saevskiy A, McGinty D, Alam MN. Activation of the Ventrolateral Preoptic Neurons Projecting to the Perifornical-Hypothalamic Area Promotes Sleep: DREADD Activation in Wild-Type Rats. Cells 2022; 11:2140. [PMID: 35883583 PMCID: PMC9319714 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) predominantly contains sleep-active neurons and is involved in sleep regulation. The perifornical-hypothalamic area (PF-HA) is a wake-regulatory region and predominantly contains wake-active neurons. VLPO GABAergic/galaninergic neurons project to the PF-HA. Previously, the specific contribution of VLPO neurons projecting to the PF-HA (VLPO > PF-HAPRJ) in sleep regulation in rats could not be investigated due to the lack of tools that could selectively target these neurons. We determined the contribution of VLPO > PF-HAPRJ neurons in sleep regulation by selectively activating them using designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) in wild-type Fischer-344 rats. We used a combination of two viral vectors to retrogradely deliver the Cre-recombinase gene, specifically, in VLPO > PF-HA neurons, and further express hM3Dq in those neurons to selectively activate them for delineating their specific contributions to sleep−wake functions. Compared to the control, in DREADD rats, clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) significantly increased fos-expression, a marker of neuronal activation, in VLPO > PF-HAPRJ neurons (2% vs. 20%, p < 0.01) during the dark phase. CNO treatment also increased nonREM sleep (27% vs. 40%, p < 0.01) during the first 3 h of the dark phase, when rats are typically awake, and after exposure to the novel environment (55% vs. 65%; p < 0.01), which induces acute arousal during the light phase. These results support a hypothesis that VLPO > PF-HAPRJ neurons constitute a critical component of the hypothalamic sleep−wake regulatory circuitry and promote sleep by suppressing wake-active PF-HA neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrey Kostin
- Research Service (151A3), Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 16111 Plummer Street, Sepulveda, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA; (A.K.); (M.A.A.); (D.M.)
| | - Md. Aftab Alam
- Research Service (151A3), Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 16111 Plummer Street, Sepulveda, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA; (A.K.); (M.A.A.); (D.M.)
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Anton Saevskiy
- Scientific Research and Technology Center for Neurotechnology, Southern Federal University, 344006 Rostov-on-Don, Russia;
| | - Dennis McGinty
- Research Service (151A3), Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 16111 Plummer Street, Sepulveda, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA; (A.K.); (M.A.A.); (D.M.)
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Md. Noor Alam
- Research Service (151A3), Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 16111 Plummer Street, Sepulveda, Los Angeles, CA 91343, USA; (A.K.); (M.A.A.); (D.M.)
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liang Y, Shi W, Xiang A, Hu D, Wang L, Zhang L. The NAergic locus coeruleus- ventrolateral preoptic area neural circuit mediates rapid arousal from sleep. Curr Biol 2021; 31:3729-3742.e5. [PMID: 34270948 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The locus coeruleus (LC), which is located in the brain stem, plays an important role in promoting arousal. However, the neural circuitry underlying this function remains unclear. Using cortical electroencephalography combined with optrode recording, we found that LC noradrenergic (LCNA) neurons exhibit high activity during wakefulness, while suppressing the activity of these neurons causes a reduction in wakefulness. Viral tracing showed that LCNA neurons directly project to the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) and that optogenetic activation of the noradrenergic (NAergic) LC-VLPO (NAergicLC-VLPO) neural circuit promotes arousal. Optrode recordings in the VLPO revealed two functionally distinct neuronal populations that were stimulated in response to the optogenetic activation of LCNA neurons. Consistently, we identified two types of VLPO neurons that exhibited different responses to NAergic projections from the LC mediated by discrete adrenergic receptors. Together, our results demonstrate that the NAergicLC-VLPO neural circuit is a critical pathway for controlling wakefulness and that a synergistic effect is produced by inhibition of sleep-active neurons in the VLPO through α2 receptors and activation of wake-active neurons in the VLPO through α1 and β receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China; The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Wu Shi
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200090, China
| | - Anfeng Xiang
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200090, China; Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 389 Xincun Road, 200065 Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Dandan Hu
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200090, China; Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 389 Xincun Road, 200065 Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Liecheng Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, China.
| | - Ling Zhang
- The First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shanghai, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200090, China; Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 389 Xincun Road, 200065 Shanghai, P. R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kim JH, Choi IS, Jeong JY, Jang IS, Lee MG, Suk K. Astrocytes in the Ventrolateral Preoptic Area Promote Sleep. J Neurosci 2020; 40:8994-9011. [PMID: 33067363 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1486-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although ventrolateral preoptic (VLPO) nucleus is regarded as a center for sleep promotion, the exact mechanisms underlying the sleep regulation are unknown. Here, we used optogenetic tools to identify the key roles of VLPO astrocytes in sleep promotion. Optogenetic stimulation of VLPO astrocytes increased sleep duration in the active phase in naturally sleep-waking adult male rats (n = 6); it also increased the extracellular ATP concentration (n = 3) and c-Fos expression (n = 3-4) in neurons within the VLPO. In vivo microdialysis analyses revealed an increase in the activity of VLPO astrocytes and ATP levels during sleep states (n = 4). Moreover, metabolic inhibition of VLPO astrocytes reduced ATP levels (n = 4) and diminished sleep duration (n = 4). We further show that tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), an ATP-degrading enzyme, plays a key role in mediating the somnogenic effects of ATP released from astrocytes (n = 5). An appropriate sample size for all experiments was based on statistical power calculations. Our results, taken together, indicate that astrocyte-derived ATP may be hydrolyzed into adenosine by TNAP, which may in turn act on VLPO neurons to promote sleep.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Glia have recently been at the forefront of neuroscience research. Emerging evidence illustrates that astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell type, are the functional determinants for fates of neurons and other glial cells in the central nervous system. In this study, we newly identified the pivotal role of hypothalamic ventrolateral preoptic (VLPO) astrocytes in the sleep regulation, and provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the astrocyte-mediated sleep regulation.
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
Sleep-wake control is dependent upon multiple brain areas widely distributed throughout the neural axis. Historically, the monoaminergic and cholinergic neurons of the ascending arousal system were the first to be discovered, and it was only relatively recently that GABAergic and glutamatergic wake- and sleep-promoting populations have been identified. Contemporary advances in molecular-genetic tools have revealed both the complexity and heterogeneity of GABAergic NREM sleep-promoting neurons as well as REM sleep-regulating populations in the brainstem such as glutamatergic neurons in the sublaterodorsal nucleus. The sleep-wake cycle progresses from periods of wakefulness to non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and subsequently rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Each vigilance stage is controlled by multiple neuronal populations, via a complex regulation that is still incompletely understood. In recent years the field has seen a proliferation in the identification and characterization of new neuronal populations involved in sleep-wake control thanks to newer, more powerful molecular genetic tools that are able to reveal neurophysiological functions via selective activation, inhibition and lesion of neuroanatomically defined sub-types of neurons that are widespread in the brain, such as GABAergic and glutamatergic neurons.1,2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Heinrich S Gompf
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Christelle Anaclet
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Sleep in mammals is accompanied by a decrease in core body temperature (CBT). The circadian clock in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus regulates daily rhythms in both CBT and arousal states, and these rhythms are normally coupled. Reductions in metabolic heat production resulting from behavioral quiescence and reduced muscle tone along with changes in autonomic nervous system activity and thermoeffector activity contribute to the sleep-related fall in CBT. Reductions in sympathetic tone to the peripheral vasculature resulting in heat loss through the skin are reflected in a sleep-related increase in distal skin temperature that is a prominent feature of sleep onset in humans. Within a sleep episode, patterns of autonomic nervous system and thermoeffector activity and the ability to defend against heat and cold exposure differ during nonrapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement sleep. Anatomic and functional integration of the control of arousal states and thermoregulation occur in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamus. Subsets or warm-sensing neurons in the preoptic/anterior hypothalamus implicated in CBT regulation are spontaneously activated during sleep onset and NREM sleep compared to waking and may underlie sleep-related changes in autonomic nervous system and thermoeffector activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Szymusiak
- Research Service, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and Department of Medicine and Neurobiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Feng M, He Z, Liu B, Li Z, Tao G, Wu D, Xiang H. Consciousness loss during epileptogenesis: implication for VLPO-PnO circuits. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol 2017; 9:1-7. [PMID: 28337311 PMCID: PMC5344992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing concern about consciousness loss during epileptic seizures. Understanding neural mechanisms could lead to a better comprehension of cerebral circuit function in the control of consciousness loss in intractable epilepsy. We propose that ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO)- PnO (nucleus pontis oralis) circuits may serve a major role in the loss of consciousness in drug-refractory epilepsy. Future behavioural and neuroimaging studies are clearly needed to understand the functional connectivity between the VLPO and PnO during loss of consciousness in drug-refractory epilepsy, to greatly prevent unconsciousness in this disorder and improve the quality of life in patients with intractable epilepsy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maohui Feng
- Department of Oncology, Wuhan Peritoneal Cancer Clinical Medical Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors & Hubei Cancer Clinical Study CenterWuhan, PR China
| | - Zhigang He
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, PR China
| | - Baowen Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, PR China
| | - Zhixiao Li
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, PR China
| | - Guorong Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghai, PR China
| | - Duozhi Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, People’s Hospital of Hainan ProvinceHaikou, PR China
| | - Hongbing Xiang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gavrilov YV, Ellison BA, Yamamoto M, Reddy H, Haybaeck J, Mignot E, Baumann CR, Scammell TE, Valko PO. Disrupted Sleep in Narcolepsy: Exploring the Integrity of Galanin Neurons in the Ventrolateral Preoptic Area. Sleep 2016; 39:1059-62. [PMID: 26951397 DOI: 10.5665/sleep.5754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES To examine the integrity of sleep-promoting neurons of the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO) in postmortem brains of narcolepsy type 1 patients. METHODS Postmortem examination of five narcolepsy and eight control brains. RESULTS VLPO galanin neuron count did not differ between narcolepsy patients (11,151 ± 3,656) and controls (13,526 ± 9,544). CONCLUSIONS A normal number of galanin-immunoreactive VLPO neurons in narcolepsy type 1 brains at autopsy suggests that VLPO cell loss is an unlikely explanation for the sleep fragmentation that often accompanies the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yury V Gavrilov
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of General Pathology and Pathological Physiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Brian A Ellison
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Mihoko Yamamoto
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Hasini Reddy
- Department of Neuropathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | - Emmanuel Mignot
- Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University Center for Narcolepsy, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Christian R Baumann
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas E Scammell
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Philipp O Valko
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
Men and women sleep differently. While much is known about the mechanisms that drive sleep, the reason for these sex differences in sleep behaviour is unknown and understudied. Historically, women and female animals are underrepresented in studies of sleep and its disorders. Nevertheless, there is a growing recognition of sex disparities in sleep and rhythm disorders. Women typically report poorer quality and more disrupted sleep across various stages of life. Findings from clinical and basic research studies strongly implicate a role for sex steroids in sleep modulation. Understanding how neuroendocrine mediators and sex differences influence sleep is central to advancing our understanding of sleep-related disorders. The investigation into sex differences and sex steroid modulation of sleep is in its infancy. Identifying the mechanisms underlying sex and gender differences in sleep will provide valuable insights leading to tailored therapeutics that benefit each sex. The goal of this review is to discuss our current understanding of how biological sex and sex steroids influence sleep behaviour from both the clinical and pre-clinical perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Mong
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Danielle M Cusmano
- Program in Neuroscience, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Alam MA, Kumar S, McGinty D, Alam MN, Szymusiak R. Neuronal activity in the preoptic hypothalamus during sleep deprivation and recovery sleep. J Neurophysiol 2014; 111:287-99. [PMID: 24174649 PMCID: PMC3921380 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00504.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2013] [Accepted: 10/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The preoptic hypothalamus is implicated in sleep regulation. Neurons in the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) and the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) have been identified as potential sleep regulatory elements. However, the extent to which MnPO and VLPO neurons are activated in response to changing homeostatic sleep regulatory demands is unresolved. To address this question, we continuously recorded the extracellular activity of neurons in the rat MnPO, VLPO and dorsal lateral preoptic area (LPO) during baseline sleep and waking, during 2 h of sleep deprivation (SD) and during 2 h of recovery sleep (RS). Sleep-active neurons in the MnPO (n = 11) and VLPO (n = 13) were activated in response to SD, such that waking discharge rates increased by 95.8 ± 29.5% and 59.4 ± 17.3%, respectively, above waking baseline values. During RS, non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep discharge rates of MnPO neurons initially increased to 65.6 ± 15.2% above baseline values, then declined to baseline levels in association with decreases in EEG delta power. Increase in non-REM sleep discharge rates in VLPO neurons during RS averaged 40.5 ± 7.6% above baseline. REM-active neurons (n = 16) in the LPO also exhibited increased waking discharge during SD and an increase in non-REM discharge during RS. Infusion of A2A adenosine receptor antagonist into the VLPO attenuated SD-induced increases in neuronal discharge. Populations of LPO wake/REM-active and state-indifferent neurons and dorsal LPO sleep-active neurons were unresponsive to SD. These findings support the hypothesis that sleep-active neurons in the MnPO and VLPO, and REM-active neurons in the LPO, are components of neuronal circuits that mediate homeostatic responses to sustained wakefulness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Aftab Alam
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, California
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bailey M, Silver R. Sex differences in circadian timing systems: implications for disease. Front Neuroendocrinol 2014; 35:111-39. [PMID: 24287074 PMCID: PMC4041593 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2013.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2013] [Revised: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 11/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Virtually every eukaryotic cell has an endogenous circadian clock and a biological sex. These cell-based clocks have been conceptualized as oscillators whose phase can be reset by internal signals such as hormones, and external cues such as light. The present review highlights the inter-relationship between circadian clocks and sex differences. In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) serves as a master clock synchronizing the phase of clocks throughout the body. Gonadal steroid receptors are expressed in almost every site that receives direct SCN input. Here we review sex differences in the circadian timing system in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPG), the hypothalamic-adrenal-pituitary (HPA) axis, and sleep-arousal systems. We also point to ways in which disruption of circadian rhythms within these systems differs in the sexes and is associated with dysfunction and disease. Understanding sex differentiated circadian timing systems can lead to improved treatment strategies for these conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Bailey
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, United States.
| | - Rae Silver
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, United States; Department of Psychology, Barnard College, United States; Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kumar S, Rai S, Hsieh KC, McGinty D, Alam MN, Szymusiak R. Adenosine A(2A) receptors regulate the activity of sleep regulatory GABAergic neurons in the preoptic hypothalamus. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2013; 305:R31-41. [PMID: 23637137 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00402.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The median preoptic nucleus (MnPN) and the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) are two hypothalamic regions that have been implicated in sleep regulation, and both nuclei contain sleep-active GABAergic neurons. Adenosine is an endogenous sleep regulatory substance, which promotes sleep via A1 and A2A receptors (A2AR). Infusion of A2AR agonist into the lateral ventricle or into the subarachnoid space underlying the rostral basal forebrain (SS-rBF), has been previously shown to increase sleep. We examined the effects of an A2AR agonist, CGS-21680, administered into the lateral ventricle and the SS-rBF on sleep and c-Fos protein immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) in GABAergic neurons in the MnPN and VLPO. Intracerebroventricular administration of CGS-21680 during the second half of lights-on phase increased sleep and increased the number of MnPN and VLPO GABAergic neurons expressing Fos-IR. Similar effects were found with CGS-21680 microinjection into the SS-rBF. The induction of Fos-IR in preoptic GABAergic neurons was not secondary to drug-induced sleep, since CGS-21680 delivered to the SS-rBF significantly increased Fos-IR in MnPN and VLPO neurons in animals that were not permitted to sleep. Intracerebroventricular infusion of ZM-241385, an A2AR antagonist, during the last 2 h of a 3-h period of sleep deprivation caused suppression of subsequent recovery sleep and reduced Fos-IR in MnPN and VLPO GABAergic neurons. Our findings support a hypothesis that A2AR-mediated activation of MnPN and VLPO GABAergic neurons contributes to adenosinergic regulation of sleep.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar
- Research Service, Veteran Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepulveda, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Chronic partial sleep loss is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome in humans. We used rats with lesions in the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO), which spontaneously sleep about 30% less than intact rats, as an animal model to study the consequences of chronic partial sleep loss on energy metabolism. PARTICIPANTS Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-365 g). INTERVENTIONS We ablated the VLPO in rats using orexin-B-saporin and instrumented them with electrodes for sleep recordings. We monitored their food intake and body weight for the next 60 days and assessed their sleep-wake by 24-h EEG/EMG recordings on day 20 and day 50 post-surgery. On day 60, after blood samples were collected for metabolic profiling, the animals were euthanized and the brains were harvested for histological confirmation of the lesion site. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS VLPO-lesioned animals slept up to 40% less than sham-lesioned rats. However, they showed slower weight gain than sham-lesioned controls, despite having normal food intake. An increase in plasma ghrelin and a decrease in leptin levels were observed, whereas plasma insulin levels remained unaffected. As expected from leaner animals, plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein were reduced in VLPO-lesioned animals. CONCLUSIONS Chronic partial sleep loss did not lead to obesity or metabolic syndrome in rats. This finding raises the question whether adverse metabolic outcomes associated with chronic partial sleep loss in humans may be due to factors other than short sleep, such as circadian disruption, inactivity, or diet during the additional waking hours.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramalingam Vetrivelan
- Department of Neurology, Program in Neuroscience and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Patrick M. Fuller
- Department of Neurology, Program in Neuroscience and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Shigefumi Yokota
- Department of Neurology, Program in Neuroscience and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of Neurology, Program in Neuroscience and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Clifford B. Saper
- Department of Neurology, Program in Neuroscience and Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hsieh KC, Gvilia I, Kumar S, Uschakov A, McGinty D, Alam MN, Szymusiak R. c-Fos expression in neurons projecting from the preoptic and lateral hypothalamic areas to the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray in relation to sleep states. Neuroscience 2011; 188:55-67. [PMID: 21601616 PMCID: PMC3140960 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2011] [Revised: 05/06/2011] [Accepted: 05/09/2011] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The ventrolateral division of the periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) and the adjacent deep mesencephalic reticular nucleus have been implicated in the control of sleep. The preoptic hypothalamus, which contains populations of sleep-active neurons, is an important source of afferents to the vlPAG. The perifornical lateral hypothalamus (LH) contains populations of wake-active neurons and also projects strongly to the vlPAG. We examined nonREM and REM sleep-dependent expression of c-Fos protein in preoptic-vlPAG and LH-vlPAG projection neurons identified by retrograde labeling with Fluorogold (FG). Separate groups of rats (n=5) were subjected to 3 h total sleep deprivation (TSD) followed by 1 h recovery sleep (RS), or to 3 h of selective REM sleep deprivation (RSD) followed by RS. A third group of rats (n=5) was subjected to TSD without opportunity for RS (awake group). In the median preoptic nucleus (MnPN), the percentage of FG+ neurons that were also Fos+ was higher in TSD-RS animals compared to both RSD-RS rats and awake rats. There were significant correlations between time spent in deep nonREM sleep during the 1 h prior to sacrifice across groups and the percentage of double-labeled cells in MnPN and ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO). There were no significant correlations between percentage of double-labeled neurons and time spent in REM sleep for any of the preoptic nuclei examined. In the LH, percentage of double-labeled neurons was highest in awake rats, intermediate in TSD-RS rats and lowest in the RSD-RS group. These results suggest that neurons projecting from MnPN and VLPO to the vlPAG are activated during nonREM sleep and support the hypothesis that preoptic neurons provide inhibitory input to vlPAG during sleep. Suppression of excitatory input to the vlPAG from the LH during sleep may have a permissive effect on REM sleep generation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kung-Chiao Hsieh
- Research Service, V.A. Greater Los Angeles
- Departments of Medicine and Neurobiology, UCLA School of Medicine
| | - Irma Gvilia
- Research Service, V.A. Greater Los Angeles
- Beritashvili Institute of Physiology, Georgia
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Research Service, V.A. Greater Los Angeles
- Departments of Medicine and Neurobiology, UCLA School of Medicine
| | - Aaron Uschakov
- Research Service, V.A. Greater Los Angeles
- Departments of Medicine and Neurobiology, UCLA School of Medicine
| | - Dennis McGinty
- Research Service, V.A. Greater Los Angeles
- Department of Psychology, UCLA
| | - M. Noor Alam
- Research Service, V.A. Greater Los Angeles
- Department of Psychology, UCLA
| | - Ronald Szymusiak
- Research Service, V.A. Greater Los Angeles
- Departments of Medicine and Neurobiology, UCLA School of Medicine
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
Many neurochemical systems interact to generate wakefulness and sleep. Wakefulness is promoted by neurons in the pons, midbrain, and posterior hypothalamus that produce acetylcholine, norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, histamine, and orexin/hypocretin. Most of these ascending arousal systems diffusely activate the cortex and other forebrain targets. NREM sleep is mainly driven by neurons in the preoptic area that inhibit the ascending arousal systems, while REM sleep is regulated primarily by neurons in the pons, with additional influence arising in the hypothalamus. Mutual inhibition between these wake- and sleep-regulating regions likely helps generate full wakefulness and sleep with rapid transitions between states. This up-to-date review of these systems should allow clinicians and researchers to better understand the effects of drugs, lesions, and neurologic disease on sleep and wakefulness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo A España
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|