Changes in rat brain nitric oxide levels of sleep deprivation

ABSTRACT In this study, we exemined the changes at the level of nitric oxide in rat brain which was exposed to total and REM sleep deprivation for 5 days, and compared the results control groups. For this purpose, we used two different apparatus. The first apparatus was specially developed in phsiology laboratory of medical school of Gazi University. It is a " modified treadmill" keeping the rats continiously awake but not cousing an exercise affect on them. The other mechanism is a " plate apparatus" known to be clasically used in REM sleep deprivation researches. Tissue homogenates are prepared from medulla oblongata, cerebellum, hippocampus and cortex of brain of rats that were exposed to total sleep deprivation. NO3 and NO2 values of this homogenates are measured by using a " Sievers Model 280 Analyser". The results are compared to control group results. Brain tissue measurement of the rats exposed to REM sleep deprivation are compared to the measurements of the rats kept in the other plate of apparatus to provide standart condition and permitted to REM sleep. The results indicate that ; The maximum activation of NO or NO3 and NO2 levels is found in hippocampus. NO3 & NO2 levels are different in the medulla oblongata, cerebellum, hippocampus and cortex . This difference between the spesific brain regions is also found statistically different. This results is similar to study results of Benedetti et all ( 9), Williams et all ( 72) and Förstermann et all ( 22). However sleep deprivation does not cause a signifficant difference at NO3 levels but cause a signifficant difference at NO2 levels and total sleep deprivation group showed a statistically significant increase at NO2 level. In this study, we determined that sleep and sleep deprivation affect NO level of brain. These data suggests for further investigations about effects of sleep deprivation on the other functions of brain which functions by neural plasticity mechanisms such as learning and memory.