Sleep Induced by Spinal Cord Cholinergic Stimulation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In order to test existence and nature of spinal ascending hypnogenic influences 30 cats had cannula implanted in the spinal cord, as well as electrodes allowing determination of EEG signs of sleep. Through the cannulae acetylcholine (Ach) crystals were introduced into various levels of the spinal cord. Of 59 points explored 29 were found to be hypnogenic. Additionally, the hypnogenic effect was blocked by local anaesthesia of the spinal cord above the level of a hypnogenic cholinergic stimulation. The hypnogenic points in the spinal cord were localized in the dorsal horns, periaqueductal commisure nucleus, areas known to send afferents to the ponto-bulbar sleep ‘pacemaker’ in the brain stem, and known to be in part cholinergic. The results were discussed in terms of possible spinal cholinergic modulatory influences upon sleep.