Control of non-REM sleep by ventrolateral medulla glutamatergic neurons projecting to the preoptic area.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying sleep state transitions is a fundamental goal of neurobiology and important for the development of new treatments for insomnia and other sleep disorders. Yet, brain circuits controlling this process remain poorly understood. Here we identify a population of sleep-active glutamatergic neurons in the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) that project to the preoptic area (POA), a prominent sleep-promoting region, in mice. Microendoscopic calcium imaging demonstrate that these VLM glutamatergic neurons display increased activity during the transitions from wakefulness to Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep. Chemogenetic silencing of POA-projecting VLM neurons suppresses NREM sleep, whereas chemogenetic activation of these neurons promotes NREM sleep. Moreo

SUBMITTER: Teng S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9374761 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature