Open AccessSafranal Enhances Non‐Rapid Eye Movement Sleep in Pentobarbital‐Treated Mice
Author(s) -
Liu Zheng,
Xu XinHong,
Liu TianYa,
Hong ZongYuan,
Urade Yoshihiro,
Huang ZhiLi,
Qu WeiMin
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
cns neuroscience and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1755-5949
pISSN - 1755-5930
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-5949.2012.00334.x
Subject(s) - safranal , non rapid eye movement sleep , pentobarbital , hypnotic , pharmacology , medicine , anesthesia , neuroscience , psychology , eye movement , crocin
SUMMARY Aims: Safranal (2,6,6‐trimethyl‐1,3‐cyclohexadiene‐1‐carboxaldehyde, C 10 H 14 O) is an active ingredient in the saffron, which is used in traditional medicine. It has been reported to have sedative and anti‐epileptic effects, but its hypnotic effects remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of safranal on sleep‐wake cycle. Methods: We established hypnotic‐model mice treated with a low dose of pentobarbital 20 mg/kg, and administered different doses of safranal, vehicle, or diazepam. The change of sleep‐wake cycle was assessed by sleep recording and c‐Fos expression in the brain was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results: Safranal increased the duration of non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, shortened NREM sleep latency, and enhanced the delta power activity of NREM sleep. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed that safranal increased c‐Fos expression in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO), one of the putative sleep centers, and decreased it in the arousal histaminergic tuberomammillary nuclei (TMN). Conclusion: These findings indicate that safranal enhances NREM sleep in pentobarbital‐treated mice. The hypnotic effects of safranal may be related to the activation of the sleep‐promoting neurons in the VLPO and the simultaneous inhibition of the wakefulness‐promoting neurons in the TMN, suggesting that safranal may be a hypnotic substance.