Tonic activity of alpha1 adrenergic receptors of the medial preoptic area contributes towards increased sleep in rats
Abstract
Several studies have suggested that noradrenergic afferents to the medial preoptic area might be involved in hypnogenesis and in lowering the body temperature, and that the alpha1 adrenergic receptors might be mediating these responses. This study was undertaken to find out the changes in sleep-wakefulness and body temperature in rats, when these adrenergic receptors of the medial preoptic area are blocked by alpha1 selective antagonist, prazosin. Adult male Wistar rats were chronically implanted with electrooculogram, electroencephalogram and electromyogram electrodes for sleep-wakefulness assessment, and a bilateral guide cannula for microinjection of prazosin at the medial preoptic area. A radio-transmitter was implanted in the abdomen for telemetric measurement of body temperature in four groups of rats. Sleep-wakefulness was also assessed telemetrically in four other groups of rats. Sleep-wakefulness recordings from these rats were done in a specialized chamber, where they could move about freely and select the ambient temperature which they prefer. Prazosin induced a dose dependent increase in wake period and in body temperature, when microinjected into the medial preoptic area. Results suggest that preoptic alpha1 adrene...Continue Reading
References
CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE PRODUCED BY MICRO-INJECTIONS OF AMINES INTO THE ANTERIOR HYPOTHALAMUS OF CATS
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