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Ion concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid in wakefulness, sleep and sleep deprivation in healthy humans
Author(s) -
Forsberg My,
Olsson Martin,
Seth Henrik,
Wasling Pontus,
Zetterberg Henrik,
Hedner Jan,
Hanse Eric
Publication year - 2022
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/jsr.13522
Subject(s) - wakefulness , sleep deprivation , endocrinology , sleep (system call) , medicine , cerebrospinal fluid , circadian rhythm , arousal , potassium , chemistry , anesthesia , psychology , electroencephalography , neuroscience , organic chemistry , computer science , operating system
Summary Sleep is controlled by a circadian rhythmicity, via a reduction of arousal‐promoting neuromodulatory activity, and by accumulation of somnogenic factors in the interstitial fluid of the brain. Recent experiments in mice suggest that a reduced neuronal excitability caused by a reduced concentration of potassium in the brain, concomitant with an increased concentration of calcium and magnesium, constitutes an important mediator of sleep. In the present study, we examined whether such changes in ion concentrations could be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of healthy humans. Each subject underwent cerebrospinal fluid collection at three occasions in a randomized order: at 15:00 hours–17:00 hours during waking, at 06:00 hours–07:00 hours immediately following 1 night of sleep, and at 06:00 hours–07:00 hours following 1 night of sleep deprivation. When compared with wakefulness, both sleep and sleep deprivation produced the same effect of a small (0.1 m m , about 3%), but robust and highly significant, reduction in potassium concentration. Calcium and magnesium concentrations were unchanged. Our results support a circadian modulation of neuronal excitability in the brain mediated via changes of the interstitial potassium concentration.