Neuronal activity in the cholinoceptive basal forebrain of freely moving narcoleptic dobermans

CHOLINERGIC stimulation in the basal forebrain (BF) triggers cataplexy in c anine narcolepsy. Extracellular single unit recordings in the BF were carri ed out in freely moving narcoleptic dogs to study the neuronal mechanisms m ediating cataplexy induction in the BF. Among the 64 recorded neurons, 12 w ere wake-active, three were slow wave sleep (SWS)-active, 17 were wake-/REM -active, II were REM sleep-active, three were cataplexy-active, and the oth er 18 were state-independent. Systemic administration of physostigmine, a c holinesterase inhibitor, induces status cataplecticus, decreases SWS and in creases acetylcholine levels in the BF. Firing of most of the state-depende nt neurons in the BF was significantly modified by physostigmine. Some of t hese neurons may thus mediate sleep stage changes or the effect on cataplex y observed after cholinergic stimulation in the BF. NeuroReport 9: 3653-366 1 (C) 1998 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.