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Ontogeny of Rem Sleep, Nrem Sleep and Awake State in the Human Fetus in Utero

Research Project

Project/Area Number 63480369
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (B)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Research Field Obstetrics and gynecology
Research InstitutionKyushu University

Principal Investigator

NAKANO Hitoo  Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University Professor, 医学部, 教授 (40038766)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) HORIMOTO Naoki  Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University Resident, 医学部, 医員
SATOH Shoji  Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University Assistant, 医学部, 助手 (00225947)
INOUE Mitsuru  Social Insurance Saga Hospital Chief, 医長 (20138332)
KOYANAGI Takashi  Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University Associate Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (30136452)
下川 浩  九州大学, 医学部, 講師 (30128037)
堀 栄一  九州大学, 医学部, 助手 (40199518)
Project Period (FY) 1988 – 1990
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 1990)
Budget Amount *help
¥6,100,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,100,000)
Fiscal Year 1990: ¥1,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,500,000)
Fiscal Year 1989: ¥1,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000)
Fiscal Year 1988: ¥3,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000)
KeywordsHuman fetus / Ontogeny / Rem sleep / Nrem sleep / Awake state / Real-time ultrasound / 行動異常(abnormal behavioral pattern) / 脳機能障害(brain impairment) / 超音波電子スキャン(Realーtime ultrasound) / 中枢神経系(central nervous system) / ヒト胎児 / REM睡眠 / Rapid eye movement / Slow eye movement / Muscle atonia / 個体発生 / 超音波電子スキャン / 折線回帰 / REM / NREM期 / 口唇運動 / 発達 / ヒト胎児行動
Research Abstract

For the past 3 years, we have continued to make studies on ontogeny of behavioral patterns in the human fetus in utero, observed using a real-time ultrasound, in relation to the development of brain function.
Consequently, the following findings were obtained :
1. Fetal eye movement became observable at around 16 weeks of gestation with sporadic onset of occurrence. At 24-25 weeks of gestation onwards, the eye movement was found to gradually consolidate, thereby leading to formation of eye-movement (REM) and non eye-movement (NREM) periods. At the latest by 37-38 weeks of gestation, REM and NREM periods revealed an alternative change with almost uniform duration : 24 (mean value) and 22 minutes, respectively.
2. When attempting to analyze the duration of the individual eye movement as a parameter by means of piecewise regression, the critical given duration point was noted, with statistical significance, at 0.6-0.7 second in the fetuses at 33 weeks of gestation or more. This finding demonstrates that there are two different types of eye movement : rapid and slow eye movements, thereby revealing the in utero existence of REM sleep state.
3. Random mouthing movements occurring at a wide range of interval between 300 and 525 milliseconds were observed during REM sleep and were unrelated to advance in gestation, while regular mouthing every 300 to 600 milliseconds concurred only with NREM period at 35 weeks of gestation thereafter. This provides the evidence that there exists NREM sleep state in the human fetus.
4. From study on relation between mydriasis/miosis and REM/NREM periods, it was evident that about 5% of examination period in the fetuses at 36-40 weeks of gestation was observed to show the special period with mydriasis occurring during REM period. Therefore, this finding strongly suggests a sprout of awake state beginning during intrauterine life.
We believe our results will take a step toward human fetal ethology.

Report

(4 results)
  • 1990 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 1989 Annual Research Report
  • 1988 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (13 results)

All Other

All Publications (13 results)

  • [Publications] Horimoto N: "Concurrence of mouthing movement and rapid eye movement nonーrapid eye movement phases wiht advance in gestation of the human fetus." American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 161. 344-351 (1989)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1990 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Horimoto H: "Fetal eye movement assessed with realーtime ultrasongraphy:Are there rapid and slow eye movements?" American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecolgy. 163. 1480-1484 (1990)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1990 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Nagata S: "Chronological development of the fetal stomach assessed using realーtime ultrasound." Early Human Development. 22. 15-22 (1990)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1990 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Koyanagi T: "REM sleep determined using in utero penile tumescence in the human fetus at term." Biology of the Neonate. in press. (1991)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      1990 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Horimoto N: "Concurrence of mouthing movement and rapid eye movement non-rapid eye movement phases with advance in gestation of the human fetus." Am J obstet Gynecol. 161. 344-351 (1989)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1990 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Horimoto N: "Fetal eye movement assessed with real-time ultrasonography : Are there rapid and slow eye movements?" Am J Obstet Gynecol. 163. 1480-1484 (1990)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1990 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Nagata S: "Chronological development of the fetal stomach assessed using real-time ultrasound." Early Hum Dev. 22. 15-22 (1990)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1990 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Koyanagi T: "REM sleep determined using in utero penile tumescence in the human fetus at term." Biol Neonate. (1991)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      1990 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Publications] Horimoto N: "Fetal eye movement assessed with realーtime ultrasongraphy:Are there rapid and slow eye movements?" American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 163. 1480-1484 (1990)

    • Related Report
      1990 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Koyanagi T: "REM sleep determined using in utero penile tumescence in the human fetus at term." Biology of the Neonate. (1991)

    • Related Report
      1990 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] 松本桂子: "ヒト胎児における眼球運動期/眼球運動静止期に関する研究ー妊娠の進行にともなう両現象の持続時間の推移についてー" 超音波医学. 16. 539-540 (1989)

    • Related Report
      1989 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Shin Nagata: "Chronological development of the fetal stomach assessed using real-time ultrasound" Early Human Development. (1990)

    • Related Report
      1989 Annual Research Report
  • [Publications] Horimoto,N.: Am.J.Obstet.Gynecol.(1989)

    • Related Report
      1988 Annual Research Report

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Published: 1988-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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