title: Biochemical modulation of the sleep-wake cycle: endogenous sleep-inducing factors.
abstract: Regulation of the sleep-wake cycle involves diverse brain circuits and molecules. Further complexity has been introduced by the recognition of sleep-promoting factors that accumulate in the brain naturally or during prolonged waking. The variety of sleep-inducing molecules includes peptides, cytokines, and lipids. With regard to the lipids, current evidence indicates the existence of endogenous lipids, called endocannabinoids, that mimic the pharmacological actions of the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana and that are likely to be essential factors in sleep promotion. This Mini-Review presents current knowledge concerning the role of endogenous compounds with sleep-promoting properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Arias-Carrión
authors.forename: Salvador
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huitrón-Reséndiz
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arankowsky-Sandoval
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Murillo-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D016207:Cytokines; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D011453:Prostaglandins; D000241:Adenosine; C078814:anandamide