Optochemical control of slow-wave sleep in the nucleus accumbens of male mice by a photoactivatable allosteric modulator of adenosine A_2A receptors.

ABSTRACT: Optochemistry, an emerging pharmacologic approach in which light is used to selectively activate or deactivate molecules, has the potential to alleviate symptoms, cure diseases, and improve quality of life while preventing uncontrolled drug effects. The development of in-vivo applications for optochemistry to render brain cells photoresponsive without relying on genetic engineering has been progressing slowly. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a region for the regulation of slow-wave sleep (SWS) through the integration of motivational stimuli. Adenosine emerges as a promising candidate molecule for activating indirect pathway neurons of the NAc expressing adenosine A_2A receptors (A_2ARs) to induce SWS. Here, we developed a brain-permeable positive allosteric modulator of

SUBMITTER: Roy K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11061178 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature