Sharma A, Sharma R, Sahota P, Thakkar M (2016) Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are vital for sleepiness observed after alcohol consumption. Neuroscience 2016 Abstracts 254.12 / AAA18. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Purpose: Corticopetal wake-promoting basal forebrain region (BF) is implicated to mediate sleepiness following alcohol intake. However, the specific phenotype of the neuronal population mediating this effects is unknown. Since the BF cholinergic neurons are sole supplier of cholinergic inputs to several forebrain regions, including the cortex, we hypothesized that the cholinergic neurons of the BF may have a critical role in alcohol induced sleepiness. Methods: To test our hypothesis, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were instrumented with sleep recording electrodes and bilateral guide cannulas targeted toward the cholinergic zone of the BF. To verify alcohol induced sleep promotion, rats were administered alcohol [35% (v/v); 3 g/Kg; intragastric] at dark onset (pre-lesion). Subsequently, the animals were divided into two groups. Lesions: Selective lesion of the BF cholinergic neurons was performed by bilateral administration of immunotoxin, 192-IgG-Saporin (0.28 µg/0.5µL/side) in the BF. Shams: Bilaterally infusion with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (0.5µL/side). Rats were left undisturbed for 3 weeks. Subsequently, alcohol induced sleepiness was re-examined (post-lesion) as described above. On completion, rats were euthanized, brains removed and processed for ChAT immunohistochemistry in the BF to verify selective lesion of the cholinergic neurons. Results: Pre-Lesion: Robust sleep promotion was observed following alcohol administration. Post-Lesion: As compared to controls, rats in the lesion group took significantly (p<0.05) longer time to fall asleep and spent significantly less time asleep following alcohol administration. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the cholinergic neurons are the mediators of sleepiness following alcohol intake.
Related Products: 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01)