Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Ameliorates Stress-Induced Sleep Disruption via Activating Infralimbic-Ventrolateral Preoptic Projections.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is acknowledged for its non-invasive modulation of neuronal activity in psychiatric disorders. However, its application in insomnia research yields varied outcomes depending on different tDCS types and patient conditions. Our primary objective is to elucidate its efficiency and uncover the underlying mechanisms in insomnia treatment.

Hypocretin role in posttraumatic stress disorder-like behaviors induced by a novel stress protocol in mice.

Introduction: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder developed in individuals who expose to traumatic events. These patients may experience symptoms, such as recurrent unwanted memory of the traumatic event, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, increased arousal, and cognitive difficulty. The hypocretinergic system originates from the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and projects diffusely to the whole brain, and hypocretin may be involved in the features of stress-related disorder, PTSD.

A prolonged stress rat model recapitulates some PTSD-like changes in sleep and neuronal connectivity.

Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibits psychological abnormalities during fear memory processing in rodent models. To simulate long-term impaired fear extinction in PTSD patients, we constructed a seven-day model with multiple prolonged stress (MPS) by modifying manipulation repetitions, intensity, and unpredictability of stressors. Behavioral and neural changes following MPS conveyed longitudinal PTSD-like effects in rats for 6 weeks.

Hypocretin in locus coeruleus and dorsal raphe nucleus mediates inescapable footshock stimulation (IFS)-induced REM sleep alteration.

Hypocretin (hcrt) is a stress-reacting neuropeptide mediating arousal and energy homeostasis. An inescapable footshock stimulation (IFS) could initiate the hcrt release from the lateral hypothalamus (LHA) and suppresses rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in rodents. However, the effects of the IFS-induced hcrts on REM-off nuclei, the locus coeruleus (LC) and dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), remained unclear.

Deep Brain Stimulation Increases Seizure Threshold by Altering REM Sleep and Delta Powers During NREM Sleep.

We previously demonstrated that seizure occurrences at different zeitgeber times alter sleep and circadian rhythm differently. On the other hand, the synchronized delta wave of electroencephalogram (EEG) during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep facilitates seizure, while the desynchronized EEG of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep suppresses it. We also elucidated that unilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the anterior nucleus of thalamus (ANT) suppresses seizure recurrence.

Effects of N -(4-hydroxybenzyl) adenine riboside in stress-induced insomnia in rodents.

Adenosine exhibits a somnogenic effect; however, there is no adenosinergic hypnotic because of cardiovascular effects. This study investigated whether N6-(4-hydroxybenzyl) adenine riboside (T1-11), extracted from Gastrodia elata, produces somnogenic effects in rodents. We determined the involvement of adenosine 2A receptors (A2ARs) in GABAergic neurons of the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO) and the cardiovascular effects.

Hypocretin in median raphe nucleus modulates footshock stimuli-induced REM sleep alteration.

Stress is one of major factors that cause sleep problems. Hypocretin represents a stress-related neuropeptide and is well known in maintaining physiological wakefulness. The hypocretinergic neurons originate in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and transmit to several brain regions, including the median raphe nuclei (MRNs).

Manipulation of Epileptiform Electrocorticograms (ECoGs) and Sleep in Rats and Mice by Acupuncture.

Ancient Chinese literature has documented that acupuncture possesses efficient therapeutic effects on epilepsy and insomnia. There is, however, little research to reveal the possible mechanisms behind these effects. To investigate the effect of acupuncture on epilepsy and sleep, several issues need to be addressed.

Interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) mediates epilepsy-induced sleep disruption.

Background: Sleep disruptions are common in epilepsy patients. Our previous study demonstrates that homeostatic factors and circadian rhythm may mediate epilepsy-induced sleep disturbances when epilepsy occurs at different zeitgeber hours. The proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1 (IL-1), is a somnogenic cytokine and may also be involved in epileptogenesis; however, few studies emphasize the effect of IL-1 in epilepsy-induced sleep disruption.

Low-frequency electroacupuncture suppresses focal epilepsy and improves epilepsy-induced sleep disruptions.

Background: The positive effects of acupuncture at Feng-Chi acupoints on treating epilepsy and insomnia have been well-documented in ancient Chinese literature. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence to elucidate the underlying mechanisms behind these effects. Our previous study demonstrated that high-frequency (100 Hz) electroacupuncture (EA) at Feng-Chi acupoints deteriorates both pilocarpine-induced focal epilepsy and sleep disruptions.

Amygdala opioid receptors mediate the electroacupuncture-induced deterioration of sleep disruptions in epilepsy rats.

Background: Clinical and experimental evidence demonstrates that sleep and epilepsy reciprocally affect each other. Previous studies indicated that epilepsy alters sleep homeostasis; in contrast, sleep disturbance deteriorates epilepsy. If a therapy possesses both epilepsy suppression and sleep improvement, it would be the priority choice for seizure control.

Activation of amygdala opioid receptors by electroacupuncture of Feng-Chi (GB20) acupoints exacerbates focal epilepsy.

Background: The effect of seizure suppression by acupuncture of Feng-Chi (GB20) acupoints has been documented in the ancient Chinese literature, Lingshu Jing (Classic of the Miraculous Pivot), however, there is a lack of scientific evidence to prove it. This current study was designed to elucidate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of bilateral Feng-Chi (GB20) acupoints on the epileptic activity by employing an animal model of focal epilepsy.

Methods: Administration of pilocarpine into the left central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) induced the focal epilepsy in rats.

Disruption of footshock-induced theta rhythms by stimulating median raphe nucleus reduces anxiety in rats.

Theta rhythms generated in the hippocampus are controlled by the pacemaker in the medial septum-diagonal band of Broca (MS-DBB). The median raphe nucleus (MRN) transmits serotonergic signals to the MS-DBB, which suppresses the septo-hippocampus-produced theta waves, whereas GABAergic interneurons in the MRN facilitate the generation of theta oscillations. Animal studies have indicated that fear increases theta oscillations.

Electrical stimulation of left anterior thalamic nucleus with high-frequency and low-intensity currents reduces the rate of pilocarpine-induced epilepsy in rats.

Purpose: Bilateral electrical stimulation of anterior nuclei of thalamus (ANT) has shown promising effects on epileptic seizures. However, bilateral implantation increases the risk of surgical complications and side effects. This study was undertaken to access the effectiveness of a stimulation paradigm involving high frequency and low intensity currents to stimulate the left ANT in rats.

Occurrence of epilepsy at different zeitgeber times alters sleep homeostasis differently in rats.

Study Objectives: Controversial sleep disruptions (e.g., poor nighttime sleep and daytime somnolence) are common in epilepsy patients.

Activation of GABAergic pathway by hypocretin in the median raphe nucleus (MRN) mediates stress-induced theta rhythm in rats.

The frequency of electroencephalograms (EEGs) is predominant in theta rhythm during stress (e.g., footshock) in rats.

Kappa-opioid receptors in the caudal nucleus tractus solitarius mediate 100 hz electroacupuncture-induced sleep activities in rats.

Previous results demonstrated that 10 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) of Anmian acupoints in rats during the dark period enhances slow wave sleep (SWS), which involves the induction of cholinergic activity in the caudal nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and subsequent activation of opioidergic neurons and μ-receptors. Studies have shown that different kinds of endogenous opiate peptides and receptors may mediate the consequences of EA with different frequencies. Herein, we further elucidated that high-frequency (100 Hz)-EA of Anmian enhanced SWS during the dark period but exhibited no direct effect on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Effect of cannabidiol on sleep disruption induced by the repeated combination tests consisting of open field and elevated plus-maze in rats.

Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) frequently complain of having sleep disturbances, such as insomnia and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep abnormality. Cannabidiol (CBD), a psycho-inactive constituent of marijuana, reduces physiological non-REM (NREM) sleep and REM sleep in normal rats, in addition to generating its anxiolytic effect. However, the effects of CBD on anxiety-induced sleep disturbances remain unclear.

Biphasic effects of baicalin, an active constituent of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, in the spontaneous sleep-wake regulation.

Aim Of The Study: Baicalin is an active compound originating from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, which has been used for anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, anti-hypertension, anti-allergy and sedation since ancient China, though the neuronal mechanisms involved in the sedative effect is still unclear. Baicalin possesses the ability to decrease the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity. Furthermore, baicalin has demonstrated an anxiolytic-like effect via activation of γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA(A)) receptors.

TNF-NF-kappaB signaling mediates excessive somnolence in hemiparkinsonian rats.

Daytime somnolence is common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD); however there is a lack of understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved in mediating these effects. It has been hypothesized that microglial activation and the subsequent increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD. Because some cytokines are involved in the regulation of sleep, this study was designed to determine if tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), mediate daytime somnolence in the proteasome inhibitor (MG-132)-induced hemiparkinsonian rat model.

Endogenous opiates in the nucleus tractus solitarius mediate electroacupuncture-induced sleep activities in rats.

Electroacupuncture (EA) possesses various therapeutic effects, including alleviation of pain, reduction of inflammation and improvement of sleep disturbance. The mechanisms of EA on sleep improvement, however, remain to be determined. It has been stated in ancient Chinese literature that the Anmian (EX17) acupoint is one of the trigger points that alleviates insomnia.

The involvement of serotonin receptors in suanzaorentang-induced sleep alteration.

Sedative-hypnotic medications, including benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines, are usually prescribed for the insomniac patients; however, the addiction, dependence and adverse effects of those medications have drawn much attention. In contrast, suanzaorentang, a traditional Chinese herb remedy, has been efficiently used for insomnia relief in China, although its mechanism remains unclear. This study was designed to further elucidate the underlying mechanism of suanzaorentang on sleep regulation.

Interleukin-1beta mediates sleep alteration in rats with rotenone-induced parkinsonism.

Study Objective: Recently, the pathogenesis of Parkinson disease (PD) has been focused on microglial activation, especially the subsequent increase of cytokines. A body of clinical evidence suggests that sleep is altered in patients with PD; however, there is a lack of understanding of the basic cellular mechanism. This study was designed to elucidate the influence of brain interleukin (IL)-1beta on sleep changes, in addition to the dopaminergic and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic systems, in an animal PD model.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor mediates suanzaorentang, a traditional Chinese herb remedy, -induced sleep alteration.

The sedative-hypnotic medications, including benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines, are the most common treatments for insomnia. However, concerns regarding patterns of inappropriate use, dependence and adverse effects have led to caution in prescribing those sedative-hypnotic medications. On the other hand, a traditional Chinese herb remedy, suanzaorentang, has been efficiently and widely used in clinic for insomnia relief without severe side effects in Asia.

Effects of electroacupuncture at 'Anmian (Extra)' acupoints on sleep activities in rats: the implication of the caud al nucleus tractus solitarius.

Electroacupuncture (EAc) possesses a broad therapeutic effect, including improvement of sleep disturbances. The mechanism of sleep improvement with EAc, however, is still unclear. The present study investigated the effects of EAc stimulation of 'Anmian (extra)' acupoints on sleep organization and the implication of an active structure, the caudal nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS).