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The effects of sleep on the cardiovascular and the thermoregulatory systems – possible role for hypocretin
Author(s) -
Schwimmer Hagit,
Zeitzer Jamie M,
Yanagisawa Masashi,
Nishino Seiji,
Stauss Herald M,
Abboud Francois M,
Mignot Emmanuel
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.609.13
Subject(s) - baroreceptor , sleep (system call) , circadian rhythm , endocrinology , medicine , blood pressure , neuropeptide , heart rate , neuroscience , psychology , receptor , computer science , operating system
The hypocretin neuropeptides modulate sleep and are anatomically connected to brain structures important for both sleep regulation and autonomic activity. We examined the role of hypocretins in autonomic regulation using a rat model in which hypocretin neurons are ablated. We simultaneously monitored core (T c ) and tail (T t ) temperatures, blood pressure (BP), ECG and locomotor activity. We analyzed the daily patterns, relative contribution of sleep and circadian components, transitional changes, baroreceptor reflex, and heart rate (HR) and BP variability. T c and HR are affected by both sleep and time of day, but BP is exclusively affected by sleep. BP and HR both have specific, reproducible patterns of change during state transitions. T t preceded the actual transitions, implying peripheral early starting of the transition. The loss of hypocretin neurons caused a sleep state‐dependent decrease in BP. The relative contributions of sleep and time‐of‐day effects were differential based on the specific variable being examined. Hypocretins appear to be involved in mediating the effects of sleep on BP and vasoconstriction of skin blood vessels.