Sleep need-dependent changes in functional connectivity facilitate transmission of homeostatic sleep drive.

ABSTRACT: How the homeostatic drive for sleep accumulates over time and is released remains poorly understood. In Drosophila, we previously identified the R5 ellipsoid body (EB) neurons as putative sleep drive neurons¹ and recently described a mechanism by which astrocytes signal to these cells to convey sleep need.² Here, we examine the mechanisms acting downstream of the R5 neurons to promote sleep. EM connectome data demonstrate that R5 neurons project to EPG neurons.³ Broad thermogenetic activation of EPG neurons promotes sleep, whereas inhibiting these cells reduces homeostatic sleep rebound. Perforated patch-clamp recordings reveal that EPG neurons exhibit elevated spontaneous firing following sleep deprivation, which likely depends on an increase in extrinsic

SUBMITTER: Ho MCW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9691613 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature