Biomaterial Database

Microinjections of nicotine in the medial pontine reticular formation elicits REM sleep. 1990

J Velazquez-Moctezuma, and M D Shalauta, and J C Gillin, and P J Shiromani

Department of Psychiatry, San Diego VA Medical Center, CA.

Microinfusion of non-specific cholinergic muscarinic-nicotinic agonists, such as carbachol, into the medial pontine reticular formation readily elicits REM sleep. It has generally been assumed that muscarinic receptors mediate the action of cholinergic agonists in triggering rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Very little is known, however, about the role of nicotinic mechanisms in REM sleep generation. In this study, we administered nicotine and Ringer's solution into the medial pontine reticular formation of freely moving cats. Compared to control Ringer's injections, nicotine increased REM sleep and decreased wake and slow wave sleep (SWS) I percentage. Nicotine also shortened the time to REM sleep onset. These findings suggest a role of nicotinic mechanisms in REM sleep generation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008845	Microinjections	The injection of very small amounts of fluid, often with the aid of a microscope and microsyringes.	Microinjection
D009538	Nicotine	Nicotine is highly toxic alkaloid. It is the prototypical agonist at nicotinic cholinergic receptors where it dramatically stimulates neurons and ultimately blocks synaptic transmission. Nicotine is also important medically because of its presence in tobacco smoke.	Nicotine Bitartrate,Nicotine Tartrate
D011149	Pons	The front part of the hindbrain (RHOMBENCEPHALON) that lies between the MEDULLA and the midbrain (MESENCEPHALON) ventral to the cerebellum. It is composed of two parts, the dorsal and the ventral. The pons serves as a relay station for neural pathways between the CEREBELLUM to the CEREBRUM.	Pons Varolii,Ponte,Pons Varolius,Pontes,Varolii, Pons,Varolius, Pons
D011930	Reaction Time	The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed.	Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
D011950	Receptors, Cholinergic	Cell surface proteins that bind acetylcholine with high affinity and trigger intracellular changes influencing the behavior of cells. Cholinergic receptors are divided into two major classes, muscarinic and nicotinic, based originally on their affinity for nicotine and muscarine. Each group is further subdivided based on pharmacology, location, mode of action, and/or molecular biology.	ACh Receptor,Acetylcholine Receptor,Acetylcholine Receptors,Cholinergic Receptor,Cholinergic Receptors,Cholinoceptive Sites,Cholinoceptor,Cholinoceptors,Receptors, Acetylcholine,ACh Receptors,Receptors, ACh,Receptor, ACh,Receptor, Acetylcholine,Receptor, Cholinergic,Sites, Cholinoceptive
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D002799	Cholinergic Fibers	Nerve fibers liberating acetylcholine at the synapse after an impulse.	Cholinergic Fiber,Fiber, Cholinergic,Fibers, Cholinergic
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012895	Sleep, REM	A stage of sleep characterized by rapid movements of the eye and low voltage fast pattern EEG. It is usually associated with dreaming.	Fast-Wave Sleep,Paradoxical Sleep,Rapid Eye Movements,Rhombencephalic Sleep,Sleep, Fast-Wave,REM Sleep,Eye Movement, Rapid,Eye Movements, Rapid,Fast Wave Sleep,Movement, Rapid Eye,Movements, Rapid Eye,Rapid Eye Movement,Sleep, Fast Wave,Sleep, Paradoxical,Sleep, Rhombencephalic