The GABAA agonist THIP (gaboxadol) increases non-REM sleep and enhances delta activity in the rat. 1996

M Lancel, and J Faulhaber
Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroendocrinology, Munich, Germany.

To investigate the effects of the selective gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor agonist 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo (5,4-c)pyridin-3-ol (THIP) on sleep, vehicle or 2 or 4 mg kg-1 of THIP were randomly administered i.p. to 8 rats at light onset. EEG and EMG were recorded during the first 6 hours after injection. THIP 4 mg kg-1 transiently evoked bursts of absence epilepsy-like EEG hypersynchronization. It significantly promoted non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep and elevated delta activity within non-REM sleep. This was accompanied by an increase in both the rise rate and maximal level of delta activity within the non-REM sleep episodes. The effects of THIP on sleep resemble those reported earlier for the GABAA agonist muscimol and are dissimilar from those induced by benzodiazepine-agonistic modulators of GABAA receptors. These data indicate that agonists and agonistic modulators of GABAA receptors affect sleep differentially.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007555 Isoxazoles Azoles with an OXYGEN and a NITROGEN next to each other at the 1,2 positions, in contrast to OXAZOLES that have nitrogens at the 1,3 positions. Isoxazole
D008297 Male Males
D003700 Delta Rhythm Brain waves seen on EEG characterized by a high amplitude and a frequency of 4 Hz and below. They are considered the "deep sleep waves" observed during sleep in dreamless states, infancy, and in some brain disorders. Delta Rhythms,Rhythm, Delta,Rhythms, Delta
D004569 Electroencephalography Recording of electric currents developed in the brain by means of electrodes applied to the scalp, to the surface of the brain, or placed within the substance of the brain. EEG,Electroencephalogram,Electroencephalograms
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
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
D012894 Sleep Stages Periods of sleep manifested by changes in EEG activity and certain behavioral correlates; they formerly included Stage 1: sleep onset, drowsy sleep; Stage 2: light sleep; Stages 3 and 4: delta sleep, light sleep, deep sleep, telencephalic sleep. In 2007, sleep stages were redefined by The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) as: N1-N2 (sleep onset - light sleep), N3 (SLOW-WAVE SLEEP), and REM SLEEP. N1-Sleep,N2-Sleep,NREM Stage 1,NREM Stage 2,N1 Sleep,N2 Sleep,Sleep Stage,Stage, Sleep,Stages, Sleep
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
D014851 Wakefulness A state in which there is an enhanced potential for sensitivity and an efficient responsiveness to external stimuli. Wakefulnesses
D017208 Rats, Wistar A strain of albino rat developed at the Wistar Institute that has spread widely at other institutions. This has markedly diluted the original strain. Wistar Rat,Rat, Wistar,Wistar Rats

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