title: Bromocriptine, dihydroergotoxine and sleep in rats: effects of repeated administration.
abstract: Bromocriptine mesylate (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and dihydroergotoxine mesylate (DHET); 3 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered 4 times at 9-hour intervals within a 27-hour period to rats polygraphically recorded for 84 h. Administration of bromocriptine resulted in increased wakefulness and reduced slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REM) during the 0- to 36-hour period. Reduction of SWS or REM during this time period was not followed by a rebound of SWS or REM during the next 36- to 84-hour period. In addition, there was a significant reduction of SWS during the entire 0- to 84-hour period. Administration of DHET to rats did not significantly affect sleep although there was a tendency for wakefulness to increase and for SWS and REM to decrease. It appears that the effects of repeated administration of the two ergot compounds on the sleep-wakefulness cycle in rats may be indicative of the drugs' role in fulfillment of sleep 'need'.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004088:Dihydroergotoxine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D004088:Dihydroergotoxine; D001971:Bromocriptine