Work

Systemic administration of hypocretin-1 reduces cataplexy and normalizes sleep and waking durations in narcoleptic dogs.

Year: 2000

Type: article

Abstract: Recent work has implicated the hypocretin (orexin) system in the genesis of narcolepsy. In the current study we demonstrate that systemically administered hypocretin-1 (Hcrt-1) produces an increase in activity level, longer waking periods, a decrease in REM sleep without change in nonREM sleep, reduced sleep fragmentation and a dose dependent reduction in cataplexy in canine narcoleptics. Repeated administration of single daily doses of Hcrt-1 led to consolidation of waking and sleep periods and to a complete loss of cataplexy for periods of three or more days after treatment in animals that were never asymptomatic under control conditions. Systemic administration of Hcrt-1 may be an effective treatment for narcolepsy.

Source: PubMed

Authors: J John, M F Wu, J M Siegel

Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

Language: English

Topic: Sleep and Wakefulness Research

Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke