In vivo microdialysis measures of extracellular norepinephrine in the rat amygdala during sleep-wakefulness.

Norepinephrine (NE)-containing locus ceruleus (LC) has been known to participate in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle according to the differential firing rate. The aim of this study was to know the change of extracellular NE level in the rat amygdala, which are reciprocally connected with LC, during sleep-wakefulness. Extracellular NE levels in the rat amygdala were investigated during different stages of the sleep-waking cycle using in vivo microdialysis and polygraphic recording. Dialysates were collected every 5 min and correlated with the results of polygraphic recording. The content of NE was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. NE level was the highest in active waking (AW) and, when compared to AW, NE level was progressively lower in quiet waking (QW; 86%), quiet sleep (QS; 72%), and active sleep (AS or REM sleep; 61%). This result suggests that the rat amygdala also participates in the regulation of the sleep-wake cycle according to the differential NE release.