INFLUENCE OF THE CHOLINERGIC AGONIST SDZ-210-086 ON SLEEP IN HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

The administration of 1.0 mg SDZ 210-086, an orally acting muscarinic agonist, shortened rapid-eye movement (REM) latency, increased REM per cent of sleep period time and the total duration of REM sleep, and dec reased slow-wave sleep in 12 healthy male subjects. The administration of 0.5 mg SDZ 210-086 had no statistically significant effect on slee p variables. Although the tonic components of REM sleep (REM duration, the REM percent of sleep period time) were increased, REM density per cent (total) was significantly decreased due to the prolongation of to tal REM duration (in minutes) and a parallel reduction of the total nu mber of eye movements. This finding is in contrast to studies using ot her cholinomimetics (i.e., physostigmine, arecoline, and RS 86) and ma y implicate different generating systems of phasic and tonic REM sleep components.