SLEEP PROMOTING EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUSLY ADMINISTERED ACIDIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR

The influence of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) on sleep was s tudied in conscious rabbits. An intravenous (i.v.) bolus injection of aFGF induced a significant increase in sleep duration in comparison wi th animals that received vehicle solution. Somnogenic effects were obt ained 30 min following i.v. aFGF administration and lasted about 75 mi n. Furthermore, the somnogenic effects of aFGF were prevented by pretr eatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME. Our findings demonstrate a somnogenic effect of aFGF which requires crossing the bl ood-brain barrier (BBB) and implicate that nitric oxide sleep pathway may be involved in this biological effect.