Ritanserin, a serotonin-2 receptor antagonist, improves ultradian sleep rhythmicity in young poor sleepers

• Published in: Clinical neurophysiology 2002-03, Vol.113 (3), p.429-434
• Main Authors: Viola, Antoine U., Brandenberger, Gabrielle, Toussaint, Michel, Bouhours, Philippe, Paul Macher, Jean, Luthringer, Remy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 5-HT 2 receptor antagonist; Activity Cycles - drug effects; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Double-Blind Method; Electroencephalographic activity; Electroencephalography - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Male; Polysomnography; Poor sleep; Receptors, Serotonin - drug effects; Ritanserin - pharmacology; Serotonin Antagonists - pharmacology; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; Sleep - drug effects; Sleep - physiology; Sleep Wake Disorders - drug therapy; Sleep Wake Disorders - physiopathology; Sleep, REM - drug effects; Sleep, REM - physiology; Sleep. Vigilance; Spectral analysis; Treatment Outcome; Ultradian rhythm; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 1388-2457; 1872-8952
• DOI: 10.1016/S1388-2457(02)00014-7

Objectives: To determine the effect on sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) activity of ritanserin, a serotonin-2 (5-HT 2) receptor antagonist in young poor sleepers. Methods: Eight male subjects underwent two randomized night studies after receiving either a placebo or 5 mg ritanserin administered in the morning. The overnight variations in the delta (0.5–4.0 Hz) and sigma (12.25–15.0 Hz) frequency bands were characterized using a peak analysis which provided a quantitative evaluation of the time-courses in EEG activity. Results: In subjects under ritanserin, slow wave sleep duration and the number of non-rapid eye movement (NREM)–REM sleep cycles were significantly enhanced ( P