Progressive Loss of the Orexin Neurons Reveals Dual Effects on Wakefulness

• DOI: 10.5665/sleep.5446
• Publication Date: 2016-01-29T20:07:55Z
• Authors: Abigail F. Branch; William Navidi; Sawako Tabuchi; Akira Terao; Akihiro Yamanaka; Thomas E. Scammell; Cecilia Diniz Behn
• Keywords: Sleep

Narcolepsy is caused by loss of the orexin (also known as hypocretin) neurons. In addition to peptides, these neurons release additional neurotransmitters, which may produce complex effects on sleep/wake behavior. Currently, it remains unknown whether promote initiation well maintenance wakefulness, and influence or sleep. To determine dynamics behavior, we analyzed architecture in a novel mouse model acute neuron loss.We used survival analysis other statistical methods analyze orexin-tTA ; TetO diphtheria toxin A mice at different stages degeneration.Progressive dramatically reduced long wake bouts, but also improved brief bouts. addition, with neurons, were more likely during first 30 sec nonrapid eye movement sleep then less return 60 wakefulness.These findings help explain sleepiness fragmented that are characteristic narcolepsy. Orexin impairs bouts resulting poor this neuronal fragments increasing risk awakening beginning reducing likelihood quickly returning