REM sleep deprivation

The functions of these different phases of sleep are not at all clear but chronic sleep deprivation does eventually lead to death. It seems to be the slow-wave component of sleep (SWS) that is vital and it is thought to serve a restorative purpose. This would be consistent with its greater occurrence during the early stages of the sleep cycle when hormone secretion supports anabolic metabolism. If subjects are wakened every time they enter a period of REM sleep (evidenced by the EEG) there appears to be no overt harmful effect on their behaviour. In fact, REM sleep deprivation has even been used, with some claims of success, as a treatment for minor depression. However, there is an unproven belief that REM sleep is important for memory consolidation. 

Basheer, R Magner, M., McCarley, R. W. Shiromani, P. J. (1998). REM sleep deprivation increases the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase and norepinephrine transporter mRNA in the locus coeruleus. Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res. 57,... 

Mallick, B. N. Thakkar, M. (1991). Short-term REM sleep deprivation increases acetylcholinesterase activity in the medulla of rats. Neurosci Lett. 130, 221-4. 

Mallick, B. N., Siegel, J. M. Fahringer, H. (1990). Changes in pontine unit activity with REM sleep deprivation. Brain Res. 515, 94-8. 

Perez, N. M. Benedito, M. A. (1997). Activities of monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B in discrete regions of rat brain after rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behan. 58, 605-8. 

Thakkar, M. Mallick, B. N. (1991). Effect of REM sleep deprivation on rat brain acetylcholinesterase. Pharmacol Biochem. Behav. 39, 211-14. 

Asakura W., Matsumoto K, Ohta H., Watanabe H. (1992). REM sleep deprivation decreases apomorphine-induced stimulation of locomotor activity but not stereotyped behavior in mice. Gen. Pharmacol 23, 337-41. 

Brock J. W., Hamdi A., Ross K., Payne S., Prasad C. (1995). REM sleep deprivation alters dopamine D2 receptor binding in the rat frontal cortex. Pharmacol. 

Duran-Vazquez A., Drucker-Cohn R. (1997). Differential role of dopamine receptors on motor asymmetries of nigro-stratal lesioned animals that are REM sleep deprived. Brain Res. 744, 171-4. 

Farber J., Miller J. D., Crawford K. A., McMillen B. A. (1983). Dopamine metabolism and receptor sensitivity in rat brain after REM sleep deprivation. Pharmacol Biochem. Behav. 18(4), 509-13. 

Lara-Lemus A., Drucker-Colin R., Mendez-Franco J., Palomero-Rivero M., Perez de la Mora M. (1998). Biochemical effects induced by REM sleep deprivation in naive and in D-amphetamine treated rats. Neurobiology 6(1), 13-22. 

Tufik S., Lindsey C. J., Carlini E. A. (1978). Does REM sleep deprivation induce a... 

Zwicker A., Calil H. (1986). The effects of REM sleep deprivation on striatal dopamine receptor sites. Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav. 24, 809-12. 

Many psychotropic drugs from various classes other than antidepressants have been shown over the years also to suppress REM sleep, but they do not have any antidepressant efficacy (Kales 1995). A review, however, indicated that, compared with other REM suppressant drugs, antidepressants produce a suppression of REM sleep that is larger, more persistent, and followed more frequently by REM rebound on drug discontinuation (G. W. Vogel et al. 1990). Thus, differences across drug classes indeed make antidepressants unique, with their REM suppressant effect paralleling only that of the arousal-induced REM sleep deprivation. 

Vinar O, Klein DE, Potter WZ, et al A survey of psychotropic medications not available in the United States. Neuropsychopharmacology 5 201-217, 1991 Vitiello B, Spreat S, Behar D Obsessive-compulsive disorder in mentally retarded patients. J Nerv Ment Dis 177 232-236, 1989 Vitiello B, Shimon H, Behar D, et al Platelet imipramine binding and serotonin uptake in OCD patients. Acta Psychiatr Scand 84 29-32, 1991 Vizi ES, Harsing LG, Zsilla G Evidence of the modulatory role of serotonin in acetylcholine release from striatal interneurones. Brain Res 212 89-99, 1981 Vogel GW A review of REM sleep deprivation. Arch Gen Psychiatry 32 749-761, 1975... 

The principal disadvantages of barbiturates as hypnotics include the development of physical dependence, a relatively low therapeutic index (and the potential of poisoning, as in suicide), suppression of REM sleep, and possible hangover effects. As mentioned above, benzodiazepines (e.g., flurazepam or brotizolam) are hypnotics as effective as barbiturates and are much safer in terms of their therapeutic index, addiction potential, and REM sleep-deprivation effects. Thus benzodiazepines have displaced barbiturates as sedative hypnotics. 

We don t know the basis of this loss of temperature control, but we do know that REM sleep is itself associated with failure of the central thermostat, and we know that REM sleep deprivation also causes a loss of temperature. A unifying hypothesis is that any condition that potentiates REM sleep physiology may also compromise the central regulation of body temperature. Relevant to this hypothesis is the fact that the two brain stem aminergic neuromodulators that are inactivated in REM sleep are active in responding to thermal stress. 

Nykamp K, Rosenthal L, Folkerts M, Roehrs T, Guido P, Roth T. The effects of REM sleep deprivation on the level of sleepiness/alertness. Sleep 1998 21(6) 609-614. 

REM) sleep deprivation (RSD) and the potential that there are different effects depending on when an intervention is applied. Most studies of neonatal RSD are conducted between PN 8 and PN 21 and thus span a time when there are changes in the normal ontogeny of sleep. 

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