title: Lumbar sympathetic nerve activity and hindquarter blood flow during REM sleep in rats.
abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the response of lumbar sympathetic nerve activity (LSNA) to the onset of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and its contribution to the regulation of muscle blood flow during REM sleep in rats. Electrodes for the measurements of LSNA, electroencephalogram, electromyogram and electrocardiogram and a Doppler flow cuff for the measurements of blood flow in the common iliac and mesenteric arteries, also catheters for the measurements of systemic arterial and central venous pressures were implanted chronically. REM sleep resulted in a step increase in LSNA, by 22 +/- 9% (mean +/-S.E.M., P < 0.05), a reduction of iliac vascular conductance, by -16 +/- 3% (P < 0.05) and a gradual increase in systemic arterial pressure, reaching a maximum value of 8.1 +/- 2.0 mmHg (P < 0.05) at 89 s after onset of REM sleep, while mesenteric vascular conductance increased simultaneously by 5 +/- 2% (P < 0.05). There was a significant (Pearson's correlation coefficient = 0.94, P < 0.05) inverse linear relationship between LSNA and the iliac blood flow. Unilateral lumbar sympathectomy blunted the reduction of iliac blood flow induced by the onset of REM sleep. The present observations suggest that the onset of REM sleep appears to be associated with a vasodilation in viscera and a vasoconstriction in skeletal muscle, such that systemic arterial pressure increases during REM sleep in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Life Science and Human Technology, Nara Women's University, Kita-Uoya Nishimachi, Nara 630-8506, Japan. k.miki@cc.nara-wu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kenju
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: Michiyo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oda
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamijyo
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Misa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshimoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003714:Denervation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004576:Electromyography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000294:innervation*; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000502:physiology; D008161:Lumbosacral Region; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D017286:Polysomnography; D051381:Rats; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009638:Norepinephrine