[Expression changes of nitric oxide synthase mRNA of hypothalamus after sleep deprivation in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) deprivation on the expression of mRNA coding for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) of hypothalamus in rats.


METHODS
Flower pot technique was adopted to deprive the REMS of Sprague-Dawley rats for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h respectively. The expression of mRNA coding for nNOS or iNOS of hypothalamus in rats was assayed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The amount of nNOS mRNA was significantly higher in 24 h REMS deprivation group (P<0.01), then the amount was lowered in 48 h deprivation group and became significantly lower in 72 h deprivation group than that in the control group (P<0.05). There was low expression of iNOS mRNA of hypothalamus in rats, and there was no difference in the expression of iNOS mRNA among 24 h, 48 h REMS deprivation and the control groups. But the expression was significantly increased in 72 h REMS deprivation group (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Deprivation of REMS increased the expression of nNOS and iNOS mRNA of hypothalamus. Excessive nitric oxide (NO) might be a major factor resulting in not only the sleep rebound phenomenon but also the injury of human function caused by sleep loss directly or indirectly by other sleep factors.
Liu
Chang-yun
CY
Naval Hospital No. 411 of People's Liberation Army, Shanghai, China.
Ji
Hong-guang
HG
Zhou
Jian-guang
JG
Qian
Ping-ping
PP
Shen
Hui
H
Ruan
Fang-ming
FM
D000818:Animals; D015870:Gene Expression; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase