Sleep-promoting action of excitatory amino acid antagonists: a different role for thalamic NMDA and non-NMDA receptors.
Changes in the sleep-waking cycle of freely moving cats were studied during application of excitatory amino acid antagonists in the ventro-posterolateral thalamic nuclei by microdialysis. DL-2-Amino-5-phosphono-pentanoic acid (APV), a selective N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, produced an increase in the deep stages of slow wave sleep and in paradoxical sleep and a decrease in the light stages of slow wave sleep (SWS1), while 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), at a concentration selective for the non-NMDA receptors, produced a marked increase in SWS1. These results indicate a strong sleep-promoting action of excitatory amino acid antagonists and suggest that thalamic NMDA and non-NMDA receptors may play different roles in sleep regulation. Thus, changes in the sleep-waking cycle should be carefully evaluated when assessing the potential clinical use of excitatory amino acid antagonists.
Juhász
G
G
Department of Comparative Physiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
Kékesi
K
K
Emri
Z
Z
Soltesz
I
I
Crunelli
V
V
D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D013787:Thalamic Nuclei / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D014633:Valine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D011810:Quinoxalines; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; C056639:2-amino-5-phosphopentanoic acid; D014633:Valine