The cuff pedestal: an alternative to flowerpots?

Prolonged REM sleep restriction induces metabolic syndrome-related changes: Mediation by pro-inflammatory cytokines

Chronic sleep restriction in human beings results in metabolic abnormalities, including changes in the control of glucose homeostasis, increased body mass and risk of cardiovascular disease. In rats, 96h of REM sleep deprivation increases caloric intake, but retards body weight gain. Moreover, this procedure increases the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), which may be involved with the molecular mechanism proposed to mediate insulin resistance. The goal of the present study was to assess the effects of a chronic protocol of sleep restriction on parameters of energy balance (food intake and body weight), leptin plasma levels and its hypothalamic receptors and mediators of the immune system in the retroperitoneal adipose tissue (RPAT). Thirty-four Wistar rats were distributed in control (CTL) and sleep restriction groups; the latter was kept onto individual narrow platforms immersed in water for 18h/day (from 16:00h to 10:00h), for 21days (SR21). Food intake was assessed daily, after each sleep restriction period and body weight was measured daily, after the animals were taken from the sleep deprivation chambers. At the end of the 21day of sleep restriction, rats were decapitated and RPAT was obtained for morphological and immune functional assays and expression of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) was assessed in skeletal muscle. Another subset of animals was used to evaluate blood glucose clearance. The results replicated previous findings on energy balance, e.g., increased food intake and reduced body weight gain. There was a significant reduction of RPAT mass (p<0.001), of leptin plasma levels and hypothalamic leptin receptors. Conversely, increased levels of TNF-α and IL-6 and expression of phosphorylated NFκ-β in the RPAT of SR21 compared to CTL rats (p<0.01, for all parameters). SR21 rats also displayed reduced glucose clearance and IRS-1 expression than CTL rats (p<0.01). The present results indicated that 21days of sleep restriction by the platform method induced metabolic syndrome-related alterations that may be mediated by inflammation of the RPAT.

Paradoxical sleep deprivation and sleep recovery: effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, energy balance and body composition of rats

Numerous studies indicate that sleep deprivation alters energy expenditure. However, this conclusion is drawn from indirect measurements. In the present study, we investigated alterations of energy expenditure, body composition, blood glucose levels, plasma insulin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone levels immediately after 4 days of sleep deprivation or after 4 days of sleep recovery. Rats were sleep deprived or maintained in a control environment (groups sleep-deprived/deprivation and control/deprivation). One half of these animals were sacrificed at the end of the deprivation period and the other half was transported to metabolic cages, where they were allowed to sleep freely (groups sleep-deprived/recovery and control/recovery). At the end of the sleep recovery period, these rats were sacrificed. After sleep deprivation, sleep-deprived rats exhibited loss of body weight, augmented energy expenditure and reduced metabolic efficiency compared to control rats. These alterations were normalised during the sleep recovery period. The body composition of sleep-deprived rats was altered insofar as there was a loss of fat content and gain of protein content in the carcass compared to control rats. However, these alterations were not reversed by sleep recovery. Finally, plasma levels of insulin were reduced during the sleep deprivation period in both control and sleep deprived groups compared to the recovery period. After the deprivation period, plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels were increased in sleep-deprived rats compared to control rats, and although ACTH levels were similar between the groups after the sleep recovery period, corticosterone levels remained elevated in sleep-deprived rats after this period. By means of direct measurements of metabolism, our results showed that sleep deprivation produces increased energy expenditure and loss of fat content. Most of the alterations were reversed by sleep recovery, except for corticosterone levels and body composition.

Palatable solutions during paradoxical sleep deprivation: reduction of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and lack of effect on energy imbalance

Paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) induces increased energy expenditure in rats, insofar as rats eat more but loose weight throughout the deprivation period. In the present study, rats were offered water, saccharin or sucrose to drink during the deprivation period, since it has been proposed that carbohydrates reduce the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response to stress. Rats were submitted to the flower pot technique for 96 h. During the PSD period, they were weighed daily and food and fluid intake was assessed twice a day. At the end of the PSD period, rats were killed and plasma concentrations of glucose, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone were assayed. Compared to their control counterparts, all paradoxical sleep-deprived rats consumed more food, but lost weight. Paradoxical sleep-deprived rats given sucrose drank more than their control counterparts (especially in the light phase of the light/dark cycle). Paradoxical sleep-deprived rats showed increased food intake during all periods throughout the experiment, with peak intake during the dark phase and nadir during the light phase of the light/dark cycle. All paradoxical sleep-deprived rats showed lower glucose plasma levels than control rats and increased relative adrenal weight. However, when given saccharin or sucrose, paradoxical sleep-deprived rats showed lower concentrations of ACTH and corticosterone than their water-provided counterparts, indicating that palatable fluids were capable of lowering HPA axis activation produced by PSD. The fact that PSD induced energy imbalance regardless of the relative attenuation of the HPA axis activity produced by saccharin or sucrose suggests that the HPA axis may play only a secondary role in this phenomenon, and that other mechanisms may account for this effect. The data also suggest that supply of palatable fluids can be an additional modification to reduce the stress of the flower pot method.

Stress-related behavior and central norepinephrine concentrations in the REM sleep-deprived rat

Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation (REMd) is a potent stressor in the rat. Behavioral abnormalities are among the earliest overt symptoms of REMd, the mechanisms for which remain largely unknown. The phenomena of hyperphagia and weight loss that are associated with REMd may contribute to its later morbidity; however, little is known about the onset of these phenomena or the neurotransmitter mechanisms that are involved. The aim of this study was to determine whether the earliest effects of REMd on consumatory behavior in the rat and its performance in the swimming cylinder of Porsolt are related to changes in norepinephrine (NE) concentrations in the cerebral cortex and selected areas of the hypothalamus. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (n = 6): the REMd group resided in a water tank on 6.5-cm diameter pedestals for 96 h; the tank control (TC) group resided in the water tank on 15-cm pedestals for 96 h; the cage controls (CC) remained in their home cages for the duration of the study. In the first series of experiments, body weights and caloric intake were recorded daily, along with the performance of all animals in the swimming cylinder of Porsolt. In the second series of experiments, body weights and caloric intake were recorded, but the Porsolt test was not employed and the brains were dissected after 96 h for NE analysis by HPLC. It was observed that the REMd group had lower immobility times (p < 0.05) in the Porsolt test after only 24 h, compared to groups TC and CC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation on the properties of striatal dopaminergic system

Using the water tank procedure, we have examined the effects of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation and associated stress on the properties of striatal dopaminergic system. While stress decreased the number of D1 and D2 dopamine receptors, a combination of REM sleep deprivation attenuated the decrease. The ratio of D1 to D2 densities, however, increased on both the stress and REM sleep deprivation groups. In contrast, the number of dopamine uptake sites remained unchanged. The enhanced behavioral responses to dopaminergic stimulants after REM sleep deprivation are discussed.

Autoradiography of hypothalamic regions after acute hyperosmolarity in mice

Many regions around the third ventricle of the brain are thought to participate in the regulation of water intake. In this study we have visualized in acutely hyperosmolar mice the hypothalamic regions by using autoradiography and [14C]deoxyglucose as marker. By applying a recently published, inexpensive, calibrated photographic method for the analysis of the autoradiographs, we can show that the medial parts of the hypothalamus near the third ventricle increased their uptake of deoxyglucose in comparison with the lateral parts. Densitometric measurements confirmed the results. The results also indicate that parts of the medial hypothalamus, even those that are more caudal than the paraventricular nuclei, react to hyperosmolarity.

Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation depresses plasma FSH and LH in castrated rats

In castrated Wistar rats four days of Rapid Eye Movement sleep (REMs) deprivation by the cuff pedestal method induced decrements in plasma LH and FSH. The adenohypophyseal levels of these hormones were decreased in the REMs-deprived rats and in the control rats kept on pedestals with the supporting cuff in the elevated position as compared with the home-cage control rats. The results are discussed in terms of regional brain metabolic activity and transmission.

REM sleep deprivation increases early morning pineal melatonin in castrated rats

Recently nighttime melatonin levels have been shown to be attenuated in depressive patients or patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type. On the other hand, depression can be transiently relieved by deprivation of rapid eye movement sleep. Since exogenous melatonin administration increases rapid eye movement sleep and slow wave sleep in the rat, could rapid eye movement sleep deprivation then inversely influence endogenous melatonin production? We found indices that in castrated Wistar rats 4 days of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation by the cuff pedestal method elevates the pineal content of melatonin by a factor of two at 1 to 2 h after light onset. Rapid eye movement sleep is thus suggested to influence pineal activity. This mechanism might be involved in the human depression-alleviating effect of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation.

A function for REM sleep: regulation of noradrenergic receptor sensitivity

We hypothesize that REM sleep serves to upregulate and/or prevent downregulation of brain norepinephrine (NE) receptors. This hypothesis is based on the following observations: (1) NE neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) are tonically active in waking and non-REM sleep, but the entire population of LC NE neurons is inactive during REM sleep. (2) Continuous presence of NE or adrenoceptor agonists downregulates NE receptors, while a reduction in NE availability upregulates these receptors. (3) The effects of REM sleep deprivation are similar to those of NE receptor downregulation. Recent biochemical studies of NE receptor sensitivity provide strong experimental support for this hypothesis. The functional consequence of enhanced NE receptor 'tone' brought about by REM sleep would be improved signal processing in diverse brain systems, thus endowing the organism with a selective advantage. This hypothesis makes a number of specific predictions which can be tested with currently available techniques, and suggests new ways of understanding the evolution and postnatal development of REM sleep.

Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation affects sleep similarly in castrated and noncastrated rats

Twenty-four-hour recordings of electrophysiological correlates of the sleep-waking cycle in castrated and noncastrated Wistar rats were performed to validate the cuff pedestal technique in the deprivation of rapid eye movement sleep. An undisturbed pattern of sleep was found in both castrated and noncastrated rats when the cuffs were in the raised position. The lowering of the cuff for 4 days virtually abolished REMs in both groups of rats. During neither the dark nor the light period was there any difference between the castrated and noncastrated rats in the total amount of REMs rebound. The results accord with the data obtained by the conventional flowerpot procedure and show that castration does not influence the amount of REMs before, during, and after REMs deprivation in the rat. It is suggested that testicular testosterone, contrary to growth hormone, is not essential for the triggering of REMs sleep, although both have anabolic actions.

REM-sleep deprivation-induced increase in ethanol intake: role of brain monoaminergic neurons

The ethanol intake of Long-Evans male rats was recorded before, during and after deprivation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep produced with the flowerpot technique modified by using a cuff pedestal and electrified grid floor instead of water. Ethanol intake increased significantly during REM-sleep deprivation. A rebound decrease in ethanol drinking was then observed during the REM-rebound phase immediately after the termination of REM-sleep deprivation. Because REM-sleep deprivation has been reported to impair the function of central monoamine neuronal systems and because some studies have implicated these systems in the control of voluntary ethanol intake, we studied whether different monoamine uptake blocking agents could antagonize the increase in ethanol intake caused by REM-sleep deprivation. After three days of REM-sleep deprivation, the rats were given uptake blocking agents for serotonin (citalopram, 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg/day, IP), dopamine (GBR 12909, 5 mg/kg/day, IP) and noradrenaline (talsupram, 1, 5 and 10 mg/kg/day, IP). Citalopram and GBR 12909 did not modify the increased level of ethanol intake, but talsupram decreased ethanol intake to the levels seen prior to deprivation, and during the REM-rebound phase amplified the decrease found. These effects of talsupram could be antagonized by blocking mg/kg/day, IP). Prazosin alone tended to increase ethanol consumption. These findings suggest that functional alterations in central noradrenergic neurons during REM-sleep deprivation may contribute to the concurrent increase in ethanol intake.

Effects of partial food restriction on nocturnal meal size and feeding speed are counteracted by concurrent REM sleep deprivation in the rat

Effects of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation on meal size and feeding speed were investigated by means of the cuff pedestal technique in 9 male rats exposed to partial food restriction. Reduction of available food by 50% alone, when accomplished by providing the pellets at the beginning of each dark period, during 7 consecutive days, induced a quite linear increase both in the meal size and feeding speed. When the same feeding schedule was repeated in combination with REM sleep deprivation, the meal size remained smaller and the feeding time was prolonged (during the first 3-4 days) when compared to those during food restriction alone, although losses of body weight were almost doubled. These findings are in agreement with the effects of REM sleep deprivation on the meal pattern in rats on ad libitum diet and provide further support for the suggestion of the importance of REM sleep in the generation of the light/dark rhythm of feeding in the rat.

Increased aggression after rapid eye movement sleep deprivation in Wistar rats is not influenced by reduction of dimensions of enclosure

Twelve female and twelve male Wistar rats were assigned to home groups, platform-control groups, and rapid eye movement sleep deprivation groups. The deprivation was performed with the cuff-pedestal method. Rats were tested in pairs in a shrinking chamber to increase proximity of the rats and to provoke interaction between them. An increase in boxing behavior was noted in the sleep-deprived groups. The result confirms that deprivation of rapid eye movement sleep increases aggressive behavior in the rat. However, this behavior is not influenced by the area of the testing arena. The sleep-deprived females explored each other more than the controls; the males' behavior did not differ in this respect. The amount of genital exploration decreased with diminishing area of enclosure, whereas boxing was not area dependent.

Decision-making to initiate voluntary movements in the rat is altered during deprivation of rapid eye movement sleep

Eight male rats were deprived of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep for 6 days by means of a cuff pedestal which makes it possible to use the animal as its own control. In order to obtain access to food, the rat had to jump from its pedestal to a strip of wire mesh suspended from the ceiling of the deprivation chamber. The number as well as duration of hangings on the wire mesh was continuously recorded. An initial increase in jumping frequency was associated with decreased duration of hangings. This initial effect was totally reversed from the fourth day of deprivation onwards. It is suggested that the threshold in decision making to initiate voluntary movement is altered during the course of REM sleep deprivation.

Effects of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation on regional brain metabolism as measured by 2-[14C]deoxyglucose autoradiography

Regional brain metabolic activity of six male Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated with 2-[14C]deoxyglucose autoradiography. Regional brain metabolic activity was determined bilaterally for 60 brain structures, using laser densitometry. After 5 days of uninterrupted rapid eye movement sleep deprivation, increased metabolic activity was found in the lateral habenula, the caudal and middle parts of the limbic system, and in the corpus callosum.

Circadian rhythms of water and alcohol intake: effect of REM-sleep deprivation and lesion of the suprachiasmatic nucleus

The recently discovered increase in alcohol drinking produced by a 7 day period of rapid eye movement (REM)-sleep deprivation with a modified flowerpot technique and the subsequent decrease during REM-rebound were now examined through continual monitoring of drinking with a computer attached to drinkometers. REM-sleep deprivation abolished the circadian rhythms of both alcohol and water intake. The circadian rhythm of water drinking returned during the first post-deprivation day but alcohol drinking was almost eliminated during the first 18 hr and there was no circadian rhythm to the alcohol drinking on the following 3 days. In an additional study, the circadian rhythms of both water and alcohol intake were abolished by electrolytic lesioning of the suprachiasmatic nuclei. The lesion did not, however, alter the mean level of alcohol drinking. Thus the abolition of circadian rhythms is not sufficient for increasing alcohol consumption and the increase produced during REM-sleep deprivation appears to be mediated by other mechanisms.

Increased voluntary alcohol drinking concurrent with REM-sleep deprivation

The alcohol intake of twenty adult Long-Evans male rats was recorded before, during and after rapid eye movement sleep (REM) deprivation produced with the flowerpot technique modified by using a cuff pedestal and an electrified grid floor instead of water. The alcohol intake reached a steady level of 2.8 g/kg/day in the 3 weeks before REM deprivation. During seven REM-sleep deprivation days the alcohol intake was significantly elevated, finally increasing to 3.7 g/kg/day. A rebound decrease in alcohol drinking was then observed during the "REM-rebound" phase immediately after the termination of REM-sleep deprivation. The results suggest a possible vicious circle of REM-sleep deprivation increasing alcohol drinking and alcohol intake causing REM-sleep deprivation.

Disruption of passive avoidance memory by REM sleep deprivation: methodological and pharmacological considerations

The present experiments were designed to examine more closely the variables responsible for the disruption of passive avoidance memory produced by REM sleep deprivation. In the pharmacological study it was found that imipramine could reverse the memory disruption exhibited by rats maintained on large platforms (presumably not REM-deprived) while both imipramine and physostigmine were required to reverse the memory disruption exhibited by rats maintained on small platforms. In the methodological study it was found that those animals maintained on the smallest platforms and therefore having the largest weight to area ratio exhibited the greatest degree of memory disruption. It is concluded that further modification and verification of the platform techniques of REM deprivation is required before firm conclusions about its neurochemical basis and behavioural functions can be made.