The mPFC molecular clock mediates the effects of sleep deprivation on depression-like behavior and regulates sleep consolidation and homeostasis.

ABSTRACT: Disruptions in sleep, circadian rhythms, and neural plasticity are closely linked to the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. Acute sleep deprivation (SD) produces rapid but transient antidepressant effects, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using a mouse model of stress-induced depression, we found altered sleep architecture, impaired sleep homeostasis, and disrupted day-night oscillations of the markers of glutamatergic plasticity - Homer1a and synaptic AMPAR expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). These changes were accompanied by a blunted homeostatic response to SD. We further show that SD and ketamine, both rapid-acting antidepressants, exert opposing effects on mPFC circadian gene expression: SD enhances the expression of negative clock loop

SUBMITTER: Gardner W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12916475 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature