Sleep deprivation stimulates serotonin release in the... : NeuroReport (original) (raw)

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Sleep deprivation stimulates serotonin release in the suprachiasmatic nucleus

Grossman, Gregory H.1; Mistlberger, Ralph E.2; Antle, Michael C.2; Ehlen, J Christopher1; Glass, J David1,3

1Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242-0001 USA

2Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

3Corresponding Author: J. David Glass

Acknowledgements: Supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health NS35229 (J.D.G.) and NSERC (R.E.M.) and an NSERC Graduate Fellowship (M.C.A.).

Received 23 March 2000; accepted 31 March 2000

Abstract

Recent literature suggests that sleep deprivation has a general stimulatory effect on the central serotonergic system. Herein we report that in hamsters, sleep deprivation induced by gentle handling for 3 h under dim red light at midday stimulates serotonin release in the suprachiasmatic nuclei by as much as 171%. Basal levels of 5-HT release are re-established within 1 h after cessation of treatment. Sleep deprivation also evokes phase advances of the circadian activity rhythm averaging 2 h. When sleep deprivation is undertaken in bright light, serotonin release is stimulated, but phase-shifting is greatly inhibited. It is therefore proposed that if the phase-resetting response to sleep deprivation is mediated by increased serotonin release, light inhibits the phase-resetting effect by blocking the postsynaptic or other downstream actions of serotonin.