title: Increased REM sleep after intra-locus coeruleus nucleus microinjection of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) in the rat.
abstract: A study was carried out on the effects of unilateral microinjection of melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) into the right locus coeruleus (LC) on the sleep-wake cycle in rats prepared for chronic sleep recordings. MCH 200 ng significantly augmented rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) time during the first, second and third 2-h of recording. Furthermore, MCH 100 ng induced a significant increase of REMS during the first 2-h period after treatment. The increment of the behavioral state was related to a greater number of REMS episodes. It is suggested that MCH deactivation of noradrenergic neurons located in the LC facilitates the occurrence of REMS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine Clinics Hospital, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay. Electronic address: jmonti@mednet.org.uy.
authors.forename: Jaime M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Montevideo 11300, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lagos
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine Clinics Hospital, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jantos
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Montevideo 11300, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torterolo
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008845:Microinjections; D010907:Pituitary Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D008543:Melanins; D010907:Pituitary Hormones; C019463:melanin-concentrating hormone
keywords: Locus coeruleus; Melanin-concentrating hormone; Noradrenaline; REM sleep; Sleep