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Functional activity of 5‐HT 2 receptors in the modulation of the sleep/wakefulness states
Author(s) -
DUGOVIC CHRISTINE
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of sleep research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.297
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2869
pISSN - 0962-1105
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2869.1992.tb00032.x
Subject(s) - wakefulness , receptor , 5 ht2 receptor , serotonin , neuroscience , 5 ht receptor , circadian rhythm , sleep (system call) , melatonin , psychology , slow wave sleep , biology , endocrinology , medicine , electroencephalography , computer science , operating system
SUMMARY In the light of recent pharmacological investigations using agonists and antagonists that have potent actions on 5‐hydroxytryptamine‐2 (5‐HT 2 ) receptors, the possible functional role of 5‐HT 2 receptors in the modulation of the sleep/wakefulness states was examined. Data obtained from animals and from clinical studies suggest that serotonin may exert an inhibitory control on deep slow‐wave sleep (SWS) through 5‐HT 2 receptors. In further investigations, the existence of a diurnal variation in the functional activity of 5‐HT 2 receptors, that depends on the day/night cycle and/or the melatonin rhythm, was revealed. Questions remain with regard to the physiological significance of the 5‐HT 2 receptor‐mediated deep SWS regulation, the anatomical site(s) of 5‐HT 2 receptors involved in this regulation and the mechanism underlying diurnal fluctuations in the functional activity of 5‐HT 2 receptors.