Lesions producing REM sleep without atonia disinhibit the acoustic startle reflex without affecting prepulse inhibition.

TitleLesions producing REM sleep without atonia disinhibit the acoustic startle reflex without affecting prepulse inhibition.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1990
AuthorsWu MF, Siegel JM, Shouse MN, Schenkel E
JournalBrain Res
Volume528
Issue2
Pagination330-4
Date Published1990 Oct 01
ISSN0006-8993
KeywordsAnimals, Cats, Medulla Oblongata, Muscle Tonus, Pons, Reflex, Acoustic, Reflex, Startle, Sleep, REM, Time Factors
Abstract

This study determined whether the brainstem motor inhibition system that mediates muscle atonia during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is involved in the elicitation and prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle reflex. Electrolytic or neurotoxic (glutamate) lesions were made in the dorsolateral pontine tegmentum or the medial medulla, respectively, to produce the syndrome of REM sleep without atonia. Startle responses were released during REM sleep following the lesions. However, the amount of startle suppression produced by auditory prepulse after the lesion did not differ from that seen in intact controls. We conclude that REM sleep suppression of the acoustic startle responses is mediated by the system responsible for tonic motor inhibition, but auditory prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle is not.

DOI10.1016/0006-8993(90)91677-9
Alternate JournalBrain Res
PubMed ID2271932
Grant ListHL41370 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
MH43811 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
NS14610 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States