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. 1997 Jun;78(3):795-801.
doi: 10.1016/s0306-4522(96)00549-0.

GABA release in the locus coeruleus as a function of sleep/wake state

D Nitz  1 , J M Siegel
Affiliations

GABA release in the locus coeruleus as a function of sleep/wake state

D Nitz et al. Neuroscience. 1997 Jun.

Abstract

GABA, glutamate, and glycine release in the locus coeruleus were measured as a function of sleep/wake state in the freely-behaving cat using the microdialysis technique. GABA release was found to increase during rapid-eye-movement sleep as compared to waking values. GABA release during slow-wave sleep was intermediate between that of waking states and rapid-eye-movement sleep. The concentration of glutamate and glycine in microdialysis samples was unchanged across sleep and wake states. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that GABAergic inhibition is responsible for the cessation of discharge in locus coeruleus neurons during REM sleep. The data suggest that a population of GABAergic neurons innervating the locus coeruleus are selectively active during rapid-eye-movement sleep.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
A) Summary of histologically identified placements of microdialysis probes. Black rectangles (indicated by arrows) indicate the placement of microdialysis probe membranes as determined by histology. IC, inferior colliculus; BC, brachium conjunctivum; P, pyramidal tract; DR, dorsal raphe; LC, locus coeruleus; P-LC, peri-locus coeruleus; FTP, paralemniscal tegmental field; FTG, gigantocellular tegmental field; BP, brachium pontis; 5M, tract of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus; 5N, 5th cranial nerve. B and C) Identification of tyrosine hydroxylase staining in a microdialysis collection area at the border of the LC and P-LC nuclei. B) Photomicrograph (1 ×) of an individual microdialysis site. Large and small white arrows indicate, respectively, placement of the base and tip of the microdialysis probe membrane. C) Photomicrograph (40 ×) of the area between the white arrows in B. Black and white arrows identify some of the tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive cells surrounding the microdialysis site.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Chromatographic peaks corresponding to GABA from an individual sleep/wake cycle. In each case, the area of the GABA peak has been blackened.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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