Astrocytic IP3/Ca2+Signaling Modulates Theta Rhythm and REM Sleep.
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep onset is triggered by disinhibition of cholinergic neurons in the pons. During REM sleep, the brain exhibits prominent activity in the 5-8 Hz (theta) frequency range. How REM sleep onset and theta waves are regulated is poorly understood. Astrocytes, a non-neuronal cell type in the brain, respond to cholinergic signals by elevating their intracellular Ca2+concentration. The goal of this study was to assess the sleep architecture of mice with attenuated IP3mediated Ca2+signaling in astrocytes. Vigilance states and cortical electroencephalograph power were measured in wild type mice and mice with attenuated IP3/Ca2+signaling. Attenuating IP3/Ca2+signaling specifically in astrocytes caused mice to spend more time in REM sleep and enter this state more frequently during their inactive phase. These mice also exhibited greater power in the theta frequency range. These data suggest a role for astrocytic IP3/Ca2+signaling in modulating REM sleep and the associated physiological state of the cortex.
Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University, Boston MA, USA.
Jeannine
J
Foley
Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University, Boston MA, USA.
Tamara
T
Blutstein
Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University, Boston MA, USA.
SoYoung
S
Lee
Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire, Université Libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium.
Christophe
C
Erneux
Departments of Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Physiology, Neuroscience Institute, New York University, New York NY, USA.
Michael M
MM
Halassa
Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University, Boston MA, USA.
Philip
P
Haydon
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*; D013826:Theta Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*
D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors
Ca2+ signaling; EEG; NREM sleep; REM sleep; astrocyte; mouse model; sleep deprivation; sleep homeostasis