2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Research on the role of the POA GABAergic neuron in the sleep regulation.
| Project/Area Number |
24700322
|
|---|
| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
|
| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
|---|
| Research Field |
Neuroscience in general
|
|---|
| Research Institution | University of Tsukuba (2013)
Kanazawa University (2012) |
|---|
Principal Investigator |
KANDA Natsuko (辻野 なつ子) 筑波大学, 国際統合睡眠医科学研究機構, 助教 (40432166)
|
|---|
| Project Period (FY) |
2012-04-01 – 2014-03-31
|
| Keywords | sleep / GABAergic neuron / preoptic area / orexin |
|---|
| Research Abstract |
GABAergic neurons in the preoptic area (POA) is thought to have a important role in sleep regulation. We applied DREADD system to POA GABAergic neurons to modulate activities of the neurons. Activation of POA GABAergic neurons increased total NREM sleep time. Inhibition of the neurons reduced REM sleep time and increased NREM sleep time during light period and reduced episode durations of wakefulness during dark period.
Axonal projections of POA GABAergic neurons were observed in hypothalamic area where orexin neurons localized using Channelrhodopsin2 (ChR2)as an anterograde tracer. Moreover, light stimulation of axonal terminals of POA GABAergic neuron which expressed ChR2 inhibited firings of orexin neurons in slice preparation. These results suggest that the functional connection between POA GABAergic neurons and orexin neurons might be an important pathway in sleep regulation.
|
