Sleep: Sequential reduction of paradoxical (REM) and elevation of slow-wave (NREM) sleep by a non-convulsive dose of insulin in rats

Life SciencesPublished 1 August 1982

S. Sangiah, D. F. Caldwell, Margaret J. Villeneuve, John Clancy

DOI10.1016/0024-3205(82)90702-0

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Citations33

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score1.31

SNIP1.07

TL;DR

Although there was no difference between insulin and saline treated rats for the total 8 hr. post-injection recording period for total percentage of time awake, or slow-wave sleep time, a 44% reduction in REM sleep time was observed in insulin treated animals compared to that of a saline treated control.

Abstract

Administration of a single non-convulsive dose of insulin (1.0, I.U./kg., I.P.) which produced no observable gross behavioral changes in rats, reduced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time 100% in the first 3 hrs. and 82% by the 4th hr., reaching control subject levels (saline-treated) by the 6th hr. In contrast, slow-wave sleep (NREM) time in insulin treated animals exceeded control subject levels by 49% by the end of the 2nd hr., returning to normal by the 5th hr. Although there was no difference between insulin and saline treated rats for the total 8 hr. post-injection recording period for total percentage of time awake, or slow-wave sleep time, a 44% reduction in REM sleep time was observed in insulin treated animals compared to that of a saline treated control. The significance of these findings are discussed in terms of known neurochemical changes i.e., an increase of both brain tryptophan and serotonin in rats, induced by a subconvulsive dose of exogenous insulin.

Keywords

PsychologyNeuroscience

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