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Biomedical subjects

L Kapás

Publications and source records attributed to L Kapás.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Cytokines in sleep regulation.

The central thesis of this essay is that the cytokine network in brain is a key element in the humoral regulation of sleep responses to infection and in the physiological regulation of sleep. We hypothesize that many cytokines, their cellular receptors, soluble receptors, and endogenous antagonists are involved in physiological sleep regulation. The expressions of some cytokines are greatly amplified by microbial challenge. This excess cytokine production during infection induces sleep responses. The excessive sleep and wakefulness that occur at different times during the course of the infectious process results from dynamic changes in various cytokines that occur during the host's response to infectious challenge. Removal of any one somnogenic cytokine inhibits normal sleep, alters the cytokine network by changing the cytokine mix, but does not completely disrupt sleep due to the redundant nature of the cytokine network. The cytokine network operates in a paracrine/autocrine fashion and is responsive to neuronal use. Finally, cytokines elicit their somnogenic actions via endocrine and neurotransmitter systems as well as having direct effects neurons and glia. Evidence in support of these postulates is reviewed in this essay.

Acute-Phase Reaction

Acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) but not basic FGF induces sleep and fever in rabbits.

Acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and basic FGF belong to a growth factor family. Interleukin-1, another member of that family, is involved in sleep regulation. FGFs and interleukin-1 share structural and functional features. We therefore determined whether acidic FGF and basic FGF were somnogenic. Male New Zealand White rabbits were provided with electroencephalographic (EEG) electrodes, a brain thermistor, and a lateral intracerebroventricular (icv) cannula. The animals were injected icv with isotonic NaCl (control) and on separate days with one of three doses of acidic or basic FGF (0.01, 0.1, or 1.0 micrograms) or with heat-treated acidic FGF (1.0 micrograms). The EEG, brain temperature, and motor activity were recorded for 23 h. The biological activity of basic FGF was determined in vitro by its ability to induce DNA synthesis in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Acidic FGF induced prolonged dose-related increases in non-rapid eye movement sleep beginning in the 1st postinjection h and continuing for 12-23 h after the treatment. Acidic FGF also induced fevers of approximately 1 degree C after the 1.0 micrograms dose. Both activities of acidic FGF were lost after heat treatment. In contrast, basic FGF lacked somnogenic and pyrogenic activity, although it did induce DNA synthesis. Current results suggest that acidic FGF is part of the complex cytokine network in brain involved in sleep regulation.

Animals

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis inhibits rat sleep.

Previous findings indicate that nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in the regulation of sleep-wake activity. In rabbits, blocking the production of endogenous NO by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME) suppresses spontaneous sleep and interferes the somnogenic actions of interleukin 1. In the present experiments we extended our earlier work by studying the long-term effects of L-NAME treatment on sleep-wake activity including power spectra analyses of the electroencephalogram (EEG) in rats. Rats implanted with EEG electrodes, brain thermistor, and intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) guide cannula were injected i.c.v. with vehicle or 0.2, 1, or 5 mg L-NAME at light onset. In separate experiments, rats were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with L-NAME three times (50, 50, 100 mg/kg), 12-12 h apart. Both i.c.v. and i.p. injections of L-NAME elicited decreases in time spent in NREMS and REMS. After i.c.v. injection of 5 mg L-NAME the sleep responses were long-lasting; NREMS did not return to baseline even 72 h after injection. EEG delta-wave activity during NREMS (slow wave activity) was also suppressed after 0.2 and 5 mg L-NAME. Brain temperature was slightly increased after the two lower doses of L-NAME, whereas there was a transient decrease in Tbr after 5 mg L-NAME. Acute i.p. injection of 50 mg/kg L-NAME elicited an immediate decrease in NREMS which lasted for approximately 2 h. The second injection of 50 mg/kg L-NAME and the following injection of 100 mg/kg L-NAME induced biphasic decreases in NREMS but not REMS.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases

Involvement of prolactin in the REM sleep-promoting activity of systemic vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).

The involvement of pituitary prolactin (PRL) in systemic vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-induced sleep was studied. Male rats were implanted with electrodes for EEG-recording, with brain thermistors to record cortical temperature (Tcrt) and with chronic intracardial catheters to obtain blood samples and to deliver substances. One group of rats (n = 8) received normal rabbit serum (NS)+physiological saline (SAL) on the baseline day and was injected with NS+VIP on the experimental day. In the other group of rats (n = 6), the baseline day was followed by administration of PRL-antiserum (PRL-AS) + VIP on the experimental day. The sera and VIP or SAL were injected 30 min before and at light onset, respectively. Sleep-wake activity was then recorded for the next 12-h light period. Systemic VIP-stimulated PRL secretion as measured by RIA in serial samples obtained hour 1 postinjection. VIP also elicited selective increases in REM sleep (REMS) in the rats pretreated with NS. Tcrt was not affected by VIP. Administration of PRL-AS blocked the increase in circulating levels of free (non-IgG-bound) PRL and prevented VIP-enhanced REMS. Comparisons of the sleep effects of PRL-AS+VIP with the previously reported changes in sleep after PRL-AS alone indicate that PRL has a major role in the mediation of the REMS-promoting activity of systemic VIP. The results suggest that an increased release of endogenous pituitary PRL modulates REMS.

Animals

Somnogenic activity of muramyl peptide-derived immune adjuvants.

Muramyl peptides (MPs) possess immunostimulatory, pyrogenic and somnogenic activities. The structural requirements of MPs for each of these activities are different though certain MPs, e.g. muramyl dipeptide (NAM-L-ala-D-isogln) possess all three activities. Several MPs are proposed for use as immune adjuvants; somnogenic and pyrogenic activities would be considered adverse side effects of such compounds. We report here that some of the putative adjuvants, GIF101, WG209 and MDP-threonine lack somnogenic and pyrogenic activities. Current results also expand our understanding of the structural requirements for these activities. Major findings are that the addition of the dipeptide L-ala-D-isogln to NAG-NAM-L-ala-D-isogln blocks the activity of the latter compound and that the amino sugar moiety of MPs, NAM, is unnecessary for somnogenic and pyrogenic activity.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis suppresses sleep in rabbits.

The effects of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, on spontaneous and interleukin-1 (IL-1)-induced sleep were examined in rabbits. Animals were injected intracerebroventricularly or intravenously during the light phase with vehicle, L-NAME, IL-1, or the combination of L-NAME and IL-1. Injection of L-NAME (5 mg icv and 100 mg/kg iv) suppressed both non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) for 4-6 h. The sleep-suppressive effects are unlikely due to pressor responses to L-NAME because administration of L-NAME (5 mg icv) produced only a transient (3-4 min) slight increase in systemic blood pressure. Injection of IL-1 (20 ng icv) elicited fever, suppressed REMS, and increased NREMS for 6 h. NREMS was suppressed for 3 h after the combined intracerebroventricular injections of 5 mg L-NAME and 20 ng IL-1 and was elevated during postinjection hours 4-6. Administration of IL-1 (30 ng/kg iv) increased NREMS and brain temperature for 2 h. After the combined injection of IL-1 and L-NAME (100 mg/kg), NREMS was significantly suppressed during postinjection hours 1-5. It is not known whether the interactions between the sleep-suppressive effects of L-NAME and the NREMS-promoting effects of IL-1 are specific, being mediated via a common mechanism, or whether they are additive, being mediated via independent mechanisms. The pyrogenic and REMS-suppressive actions of either intracerebroventricularly or intravenously injected IL-1 were not affected by L-NAME.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance

Prostaglandins E2 and D2 have little effect on rabbit sleep.

Prostaglandins (PGs) are hypothesized to be involved in sleep regulation; PGE2 and PGD2 are major PGs in the hypothalamus of many species and are proposed to reciprocally promote wakefulness and sleep respectively. PGD2 and PGE2 are also major PGs in rabbit cerebrospinal fluid, yet their effects on rabbit sleep have not heretofore been systematically investigated. We report here that a bolus injection of PGE2 into a lateral cerebral ventricle induces dose-dependent fevers and transient sleep responses in rabbits. PGE2 induces a suppression of sleep of 24 min duration. In contrast, PGD2, across a wide range of doses (0.25-500 nmol) failed to alter sleep; however, at the highest dose it induced fever. We conclude that if PGs are involved in sleep regulation, a chronic stimulation of their production by other sleep factors is necessary.

Animals

Tumor necrosis factor-beta induces sleep, fever, and anorexia.

The enhanced sleep, fever, and anorexia experienced during general infections are attributed to the increased production of cytokines. Cytokines such as interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) have characteristic somnogenic, pyrogenic, and anorectic effects. TNF-beta is closely related to TNF-alpha, and they share common receptors. The effects of TNF-beta on sleep-wake activity, brain temperature (Tbr), and food intake were, however, heretofore unknown. We injected 0.5-200 ng TNF-beta into rabbits intracerebroventricularly (icv) in the light period, and the electroencephalogram, movement, and Tbr were recorded for 6 h from rabbits. The highest dose, 200 ng TNF-beta, induced increases in non-rapid-eye-movement sleep and decreases in rapid-eye-movement sleep accompanied with biphasic febrile responses. Icv injection of 100 ng TNF-beta at dark onset suppressed 12-h and 24-h food intake in rats. These data suggest to us that TNF-beta may belong to the group of endogenous pyrogens/sleep factors.

Animals

Somnogenic, pyrogenic, and anorectic activities of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and TNF-alpha fragments.

Exogenously administered tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) elicits several symptoms of generalized infections such as fever, increased sleep, and anorexia. The aim of the present work was to localize these effects of TNF-alpha to specific amino acid sequences of the parent molecule by characterizing the in vivo and in vitro activities of several synthetic TNF-alpha fragments. Intracerebroventricular injection of TNF-alpha elicited dose-dependent fevers and increases in non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS) in rabbits. Four fragments also promoted NREMS and five elicited monophasic fevers. All of the somnogenic fragments share the amino acid sequence 31-36. In rats, TNF-alpha and one of the fragments [TNF-alpha-(69-100)] suppressed 12-h food intake. Furthermore, TNF-alpha increased the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and enhanced interferon-gamma-induced HLA-DR expression in human glioblastoma cell line. In contrast, none of the fragments possessed these in vitro activities. Our in vivo results support the concept that there are biologically active regions in the TNF-alpha molecule.

Animals

Growth hormone-releasing hormone antibodies suppress sleep and prevent enhancement of sleep after sleep deprivation.

Previous reports suggest that the hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) promotes sleep, especially non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS). To evaluate the role of endogenous GHRH in sleep regulation, the effects of antibodies to rat GHRH (GHRH-ab) were studied on normal sleep, brain temperature (Tbr), and GH secretion in experiment I and on enhanced sleep after sleep deprivation in experiment II. In experiment I, affinity-purified GHRH-ab (50 and 200 micrograms) raised in goats and a control goat immunoglobulin G (IgG) preparation were injected intracerebroventricularly (icv) in rats 1 h before the onset of the light cycle, and sleep-wake activity and Tbr were recorded for the next 12 or 23 h. Both doses of GHRH-ab suppressed NREMS and REMS throughout the light cycle. Sleep durations at night were normal. Electroencephalographic (EEG) slow-wave activity, characterized by EEG slow-wave amplitudes, was reduced after GHRH-ab during both the light and the dark cycles. Plasma GH concentrations measured 6-12 h after injection of GHRH-ab (200 micrograms) were diminished. Both the control IgG and GHRH-ab elicited fever. In experiment II, the sleep-wake activity and Tbr of rats were recorded for 24 h in three experimental conditions: base-line with icv injection of IgG, 3-h sleep deprivation with icv IgG injection, and 3-h sleep deprivation with icv GHRH-ab (200 micrograms). After sleep deprivation (+IgG), a prompt increase in EEG slow-wave activity (power density analysis) and late increases in NREMS and REMS durations were found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Inhibition of growth hormone-releasing factor suppresses both sleep and growth hormone secretion in the rat.

To study the possible involvement of hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) in sleep regulation, a competitive GRF-antagonist, the peptide (N-Ac-Tyr1,D-Arg2)-GRF(1-29)-NH2, was intracerebroventricularly injected into rats (0.003, 0.3, and 14 nmol), and the EEG and brain temperature were recorded for 12 h during the light cycle of the day. Growth hormone (GH) concentrations were determined from plasma samples taken at 20-min intervals for 3 h after 14 nmol GRF-antagonist. The onset of non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) was delayed in response to 0.3 and 14 nmol GRF-antagonist, the duration of NREMS was decreased for one or more hours and after 14 nmol EEG slow wave amplitudes were decreased during NREMS in postinjection hour 1. The high dose of GRF-antagonist also suppressed REMS for 4 h, inhibited GH secretion, and elicited a slight biphasic variation in brain temperature. These findings, together with previous observations indicating a sleep-promoting effect for GRF, support the hypothesis that hypothalamic GRF is involved in sleep regulation and might be responsible for the correlation between NREMS and GH secretion reported in various species.

Animals

Cholecystokinin promotes sleep and reduces food intake in diabetic rats.

It has been reported that systemic injections of cholecystokinin (CCK) elicit the behavioral characteristics of satiety, including sleep, in rats. CCK is a potent stimulator of insulin secretion, and insulin is hypothesized to be involved in sleep and feeding regulation. The purpose of the current experiments was to study the possible role of endogenous insulin in the food-intake-reducing and hypnogenic effects of intraperitoneally (IP) administered CCK. Normal and streptozotocin (STR)-diabetic rats were injected with isotonic saline or CCK (10 and 50 micrograms/kg) at dark onset, and sleep-wake activity was determined for the next 12 h. There were no significant differences between the baseline sleep-wake activity of normal and diabetic rats. IP injection of CCK elicited a selective increase in nonrapid-eye-movement sleep in both groups during the first postinjection hour. In a separate experiment, the effects of CCK (10 micrograms/kg) on food intake were determined in control and diabetic rats; CCK suppressed the 1-h food intake in both groups. In a third experiment, the effects of CCK treatment (50 micrograms/kg) on plasma insulin levels were determined. In normal rats, CCK elicited a two-fold increase in plasma insulin concentration, whereas diabetic rats had a significantly lower basal insulin level which was not affected by CCK treatment. We conclude that hypnogenic and food-intake-reducing effects of exogenously administered CCK are closely associated; however, pancreatic insulin does not play a significant role in either of these effects.

Animals

Intraperitoneal injection of cholecystokinin elicits sleep in rabbits.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) reduces food intake and promotes non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS) in rats. The purpose of present experiments was to determine if CCK is somnogenic in rabbits; another species in which CCK suppresses feeding. White New Zealand rabbits were treated intracerebroventricularly (ICV; 0.05, 0.5 and 2 micrograms) or intraperitoneally (IP; 2.5, 10 and 40 micrograms/kg) with CCK or saline, and sleep-wake activity and brain temperature (Tbr) were recorded for 6 h. Injections of 10 and 40 micrograms/kg CCK IP elicited a decrease in wakefulness and an increase in NREMS during the first hour postinjection. The hypnogenic effects were accompanied by a decrease in Tbr. After the IP injection of a lower dose (2.5 micrograms/kg) a slight, nonsignificant increase in NREMS during the first hour postinjection was followed by a decrease in NREMS. ICV injections of CCK had relatively small inhibitory effects on sleep. We conclude that circulating, hormone CCK might be a hypnogenic signal with a peripheral site of action.

Animals

Sleep in diabetic rats: effects of interleukin 1.

Previous observations indicate that both interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and insulin are involved in sleep regulation. IL-1 beta has been reported to stimulate insulin secretion, suggesting that some of the effects of IL-1 beta are mediated by insulin. The purpose of the current experiments was to study the possible role of endogenous insulin in physiological sleep regulation and in the hypnogenic effects of exogenously administered IL-1 beta. Isotonic saline or IL-1 beta (2.5 ng) was intracerebroventricularly injected into normal and streptozocin-diabetic rats at dark onset, and sleep-wake activity and brain temperature were recorded for 24 h. Blood samples were collected every 20 min during the first hour postinjection for plasma insulin measurement. In diabetic rats, rapid-eye-movement (REM) and non-REM sleep were significantly decreased during the second part of the light period on the baseline day. IL-1 beta elicited a biphasic sleep response in both normal and diabetic rats. This initial increase in non-REM sleep during the first 4 h postinjection was followed by significant sleep suppression in both groups. Brain temperature was not affected in either group. Plasma insulin concentration decreased in response to IL-1 beta in normal rats, whereas insulin was below the level of detection in the diabetic rats. These results indicate that, although sleep is disturbed in diabetic rats, pancreatic insulin might not have a decisive role in the regulation of sleep in rats, and it does not mediate the effects of IL-1 beta on sleep-wake activity.

Animals

Effects of nocturnal intraperitoneal administration of cholecystokinin in rats: simultaneous increase in sleep, increase in EEG slow-wave activity, reduction of motor activity, suppression of eating, and decrease in brain temperature.

Rats received an i.p. injection of cholecystokinin-octapeptide sulfate ester (CCK; 4, 10 or 50 micrograms/kg) or physiological saline at dark onset, and the 24-h sleep-wake cycle (12-h-dark and 12-h-light phases), spontaneous motor activity and brain temperature (Tbr) were recorded. EEG activity was studied through spectral analysis for 2.5 h, and food intake was measured at the end of postinjection hour 1. In response to CCK, non-REM sleep increased at the expense of wakefulness, and the sleep-promoting effect was substantiated by an increase in EEG slow-wave activity. Motor activity, Tbr and food intake decreased. The effects vanished in postinjection hour 2; the diurnal rhythms were not modified. The changes varied as a function of the dose: the effects were significant following 10 micrograms/kg, and even higher in response to 50 micrograms/kg CCK. The results indicate that i.p. CCK definitely promotes non-REM sleep. This effect may belong to the behavioral sequence elicited by the peptide, which is often attributed to satiety. As evidenced by the reduction of Tbr, CCK also exerts strong autonomic actions, which might interfere with the behavioral responses.

Animals

Cholecystokinin-octapeptide-induced hypothermia in rats: dose-effect and structure-effect relationships, effect of ambient temperature, pharmacological interactions and tolerance.

Subcutaneous injection of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) (0.005-1.25 mg/kg) elicited dose-dependent hypothermia in rats. The threshold of the response was between 0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg and the dose-response curve levelled off at doses larger than 0.2-0.5 mg/kg. Warm and cold ambient temperatures decreased and increased the response, respectively. Pretreatment with capsaicin, morphine, naloxone, atropine, haloperidol or propranolol did not affect the response to CCK-8, whereas pretreatment with phenoxybenzamine and a large dose of proglumide, an antagonist for CCK-receptors, attenuated the hypothermia. It seems that neither capsaicin-sensitive thermal and non-thermal afferents, nor opiate mechanisms are involved in the response, but alpha-adrenoceptors might be of some importance in the hypothermia. Non-sulphated-CCK-8, the C-terminal tetrapeptide and hexapeptide, [D-Ala4]-CCK-8 and [D-Met6]-CCK-8 were ineffective. Chronic treatment with CCK-8 resulted in the development of tolerance to the thermoregulatory effect, while the hypothermic responses to apomorphine and capsaicin were not affected. It seems that the tolerance cannot be attributed to conditioned homeostatic reactions.

Animals