Short-term REM sleep deprivation increases acetylcholinesterase activity in the medulla of rats

Involvement of cholinergic ponto-medullary brainstem mechanism regulating rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is known. Recently it was found that though short term REM deprivation influenced brainstem neuronal excitability, the activity of the brainstem acetylcholinesterase was not affected until after 96 h deprivation. Therefore, it was hypothesized that short-term REM deprivation might influence acetylcholinesterase in a restricted brainstem region. Results of this study show that the enzyme activity increased only in the medulla after 24 and 48 h REM deprivation. The flower pot technique was used for depriving the experimental rats of REM sleep. Suitable control experiments were conducted to rule out the possibility of non-specific effects. Thus, the medullary cholinergic mechanism probably is more important for REM.