The dopaminergic nigrostriatal system in sleep deprivation in cats.

The dynamics of changes in electrophysiological measures of the sleep-waking cycle were analyzed in Wistar rats after 6 h of sleep deprivation by gentle waking and subsequent 9-h post-deprivation sleep. A delayed sleep "overshoot" reaction was observed 2.5-3 h after sleep deprivation, as a moderate increase in the proportions of slow-wave and fast-wave sleep in the sleep-waking cycle. Immunohistochemical studies were performed in relation to changes in the sleep-waking cycle, with the aim of identifying changes in the quantities of immunoreactive dopamine D1 and D2 receptor material and tyrosine hydroxylase, the key enzyme in dopamine synthesis in the nigrostriatal system. In conditions of sleep deprivation, the caudate nucleus showed increases in the quantities of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor material, while there was a simultaneous decrease in the amount of immunoreactive material in the substantia nigra. Post-deprivation sleep was accompanied by decreases in the quantities of immunoreactive D1 receptor material and increases in D2 receptor material in the caudate nucleus, with an increase in the quantity of immunoreactive tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra. These data provide evidence of the active role of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal system which, along with other CNS transmitter systems, supports telencephalic-diencephalic interactions, in the sleep-waking cycle.