H. Iwakiri et al., EXTRACELLULAR LEVELS OF SEROTONIN IN THE MEDIAL PONTINE RETICULAR-FORMATION IN RELATION TO SLEEP-WAKE CYCLE IN CATS - A MICRODIALYSIS STUDY, Neuroscience research, 18(2), 1993, pp. 157-170
Extracellular levels of endogenous serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-H
T) and its major metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were
measured in the medial pontine reticular formation (medial PRF) of int
act cats. A microdialysis probe was inserted through a guide cannula i
nto the medial PRF. At least 12 h after the probe insertion, in vivo b
rain microdialysis was initiated. The perfusion rate was 1 mu l/min, a
nd perfusate fractions at regular intervals of 20 min were collected.
Changes in extracellular 5-HT levels were compared across sleep-wake s
tates of the animals, such as waking (W), slow wave sleep (SWS) and ra
pid eye movement (REM) sleep. To assess sleep-wake states, EEG, EMG, E
OG and PGO waves were simultaneously recorded in parallel with microdi
alysis of the medial PRF. Extracellular 5-HT levels were highest (20-2
8 fmol/20 mu l) during W. As the animals entered SWS, 5-HT levels decr
eased to about 90% of those during W. The state of REM sleep usually i
nterrupted SWS for 3-8 min. During the longer periods of REM sleep, du
ring the 20 min periods in which the perfusates were collected, we obs
erved the lowest 5-HT levels (60-50%).