Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation induces an increase in acetylcholinesterase activity in discrete rat brain regions

Some upper brainstem cholinergic neurons (pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei) are involved in the generation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and project rostrally to the thalamus and caudally to the medulla oblongata. A previous report showed that 96 h of REM sleep deprivation in r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brazilian journal of medical and biological research 2001-01, Vol.34 (1), p.103-109
Main Authors: Benedito, M A, Camarini, R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
acetylcholinesterase
Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism
Animals
BIOLOGY
Brain - enzymology
brain regions
Male
MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL
medulla oblongata
pons
Rats
Rats, Wistar
REM sleep deprivation
Sleep Deprivation - enzymology
Sleep Deprivation - physiopathology
thalamus
Time Factors
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Summary:Some upper brainstem cholinergic neurons (pedunculopontine and laterodorsal tegmental nuclei) are involved in the generation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and project rostrally to the thalamus and caudally to the medulla oblongata. A previous report showed that 96 h of REM sleep deprivation in rats induced an increase in the activity of brainstem acetylcholinesterase (Achase), the enzyme which inactivates acetylcholine (Ach) in the synaptic cleft. There was no change in the enzyme's activity in the whole brain and cerebrum. The components of the cholinergic synaptic endings (for example, Achase) are not uniformly distributed throughout the discrete regions of the brain. In order to detect possible regional changes we measured Achase activity in several discrete rat brain regions (medulla oblongata, pons, thalamus, striatum, hippocampus and cerebral cortex) after 96 h of REM sleep deprivation. Naive adult male Wistar rats were deprived of REM sleep using the flower-pot technique, while control rats were left in their home cages. Total, membrane-bound and soluble Achase activities (nmol of thiocholine formed min(-1) mg protein(-1)) were assayed photometrically. The results (mean +/- SD) obtained showed a statistically significant (Student t-test) increase in total Achase activity in the pons (control: 147.8 +/- 12.8, REM sleep-deprived: 169.3 +/- 17.4, N = 6 for both groups, P
ISSN:0100-879X
1414-431X
0100-879X
0034-7310
DOI:10.1590/S0100-879X2001000100012