Alterations in blood pressure and REM sleep after pontine carbachol microinfusion.

TitleAlterations in blood pressure and REM sleep after pontine carbachol microinfusion.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1986
AuthorsShiromani PJ, Siegel JM, Tomaszewski KS, McGinty DJ
JournalExp Neurol
Volume91
Issue2
Pagination285-92
Date Published1986 Feb
ISSN0014-4886
KeywordsAnimals, Blood Pressure, Brain, Brain Stem, Carbachol, Cats, Electroencephalography, Electromyography, Medulla Oblongata, Microinjections, Pons, Reaction Time, Sleep, REM
Abstract

Infusions of cholinomimetics, either systemically in normal humans, or directly into the brain stem of unanesthetized cats and rats, readily induce rapid eye-movement (REM) sleep. In anesthetized cats and rats, infusions of cholinomimetics have been shown to produce both increases and decreases in arterial blood pressure. We determined the relation of these blood pressure changes to REM sleep, by examining both blood pressure and sleep states after injecting carbachol at midbrain, pontine, and medullary sites in unanesthetized cats. In the pons, carbachol infusions produced an early decrease in blood pressure followed by a sustained hypertensive effect. The early blood pressure decrease was associated with the occurrence of REM sleep; however, higher values were associated with later REM sleep episodes. In other brain stem sites carbachol did not produce REM sleep or its associated reductions in blood pressure. Instead it produced a hypertensive response that increased throughout the 1-h observation period. We hypothesize that pontine muscarinic mechanisms trigger REM sleep and a REM sleep-associated decrease in blood pressure. Thereafter, nicotinic receptors mediating the blood pressure increase override the muscarinic-induced decrease.

DOI10.1016/0014-4886(86)90069-5
Alternate JournalExp Neurol
PubMed ID3943576
Grant ListNS14610 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States