Hypothalamic hypocretinergic/orexinergic neurons projecting to the oral pontine rapid eye movement sleep inducing site in the cat.

The cat ventral oral pontine reticular nucleus (vRPO) is responsible for the generation and maintenance of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Hypothalamic neurons containing the peptide hypocretin-1 (also called orexin-A) which will be herewith defined as orexinergic (Orx) neurons, occupy a pre-eminent place in the integration and stabilization of arousal networks as well as in the physiopathology of narcolepsy/cataplexy. In the previous investigations, low-volume and dose microinjections of hypocretin-1 in cat vRPO produced a specific and significant suppression of REM sleep.

Functional Anatomy of Non-REM Sleep.

The state of non-REM sleep (NREM), or slow wave sleep, is associated with a synchronized EEG pattern in which sleep spindles and/or K complexes and high-voltage slow wave activity (SWA) can be recorded over the entire cortical surface. In humans, NREM is subdivided into stages 2 and 3-4 (presently named N3) depending on the proportions of each of these polygraphic events. NREM is necessary for normal physical and intellectual performance and behavior.

[The "thalamus-cerebral cortex" anatomofunctinal unit in the waking state].

The "thalamus-cerebral cortex unit" is awakened by the "ascending reticular activating system", which originates from neuronal groups located within the brainstem, hypothalamus and basal forebrain, all of which use known neurotransmitters and whose neurons are more active during wakefulness than during the other behavioral states. Synergies among several of these neurotransmitters are necessary to generate the cortical and thalamic activation that is characteristic of wakefulness. During the wakefulness the complex interrelated structures of the "thalamus-cerebral cortex unit" provide the pathway that interconnects cortex and thalamus and allow the modulation, and organization of the mechanisms producing the adequate activity of the different thalamic and cortical formations and the organization of cognitive processes and performance of appropriate behavioral responses.

Functional anatomy of the sleep-wakefulness cycle: wakefulness.

Sleep is a necessary, diverse, periodic, and an active condition circadian and homeostatically regulated and precisely meshed with waking time into the sleep-wakefulness cycle (SWC). Photic retinal stimulation modulates the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which acts as the pacemaker for SWC rhythmicity. Both the light period and social cues adjust the internal clock, making the SWC a circadian, 24-h period in the adult human.

[REM sleep modulation by non-GABAergic neurons of the hypothalamus and basal forebrain].

The ventral part of the oral pontine reticular nucleus (vRPO) is a demonstrated site of brainstem REM-sleep generation and maintenance. The vRPO has reciprocal connections with structures that control other states of the sleep-wakefulness cycle, many situated in the basal forebrain and the diencephalon. The aim of the present revision is to map, using the results described in previous publications of our group, the local origin of the basal forebrain and hypothalamus non-GABAergic projections to the vRPO, and specially the contribution of the hypothalamic neurons positive to hypocretin/orexin (H/O) peptides.