title: The effects of 'sleep promoting agents' on behavioural state in the ovine fetus.
abstract: Fetal behavioural states, with similarities to adult sleep states, exist in both the human and ovine fetus near term. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of intracerebral administration of pharmacologic agents, known to affect sleep states in the adult, on fetal behavioural states and physiologic correlates using the chronically catheterized ovine fetus near term. Each drug was infused into either the cisterna magna or lateral ventricle for 90 min in one of two doses. Carbachol (1.35 x 10(-5) and 4.25 x 10(-6) M) led to an increase in low-voltage ECOG, eye movement and FBM activities, while scopolamine (4.68 x 10(-4) and 1.56 x 10(-4) M) led to a decrease in low-voltage ECOG and eye movement activity with an increase in high-voltage ECOG activity. L-5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) (2.04 x 10(-3) and 6.81 x 10(-4) M) infusion led to an increase in FBM, while VIP (3.00 x 10(-7) and 1.00 x 10(-7) M) infusion had no effect on fetal behavioural state parameters. Study results indicate that fetal behavioural states can be altered pharmacologically and in a manner similar to that seen in the adult but with notable differences that may relate to species, developmental or dose-response issues.
authors.affiliation: MRC Group in Fetal and Neonatal Health and Development, University of Western Ontario, Lawson Research Institute, St. Joseph's Health Centre, London, Canada.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Homan
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002217:Carbachol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D004585:Electrooculography / Q000187:drug effects; D005133:Eye Movements / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D011247:Pregnancy; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012756:Sheep; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D013346:Subarachnoid Space; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D002217:Carbachol; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D012601:Scopolamine