New research explores 'early bird' and 'night owl' slee...( time interval) percent of rest (total...)

time interval), percent of rest (total rest time relative to interval time) and fragmentation of rest (Frag; calculated as the number of transitions (per hour) from a minimum six second rest period to a minimum four second period of activity) was obtained from a computerized open-field activity monitoring system that was integrated with the sleep system.

Results

Unique and significant differences were found within and between strains over the study period. The researchers found that the percentage of slow wave sleep, rest and transitions between rest and activity varied uniquely between strains. This suggests that these findings are due to genetic differences. Furthermore, the inverse relationship between the percentages of slow wave sleep and rest within strains supports the homeostatic control theory of slow wave sleep, which is to restore glycogen during non-REM sleep.

Conclusions

The next step in this research is to examine the consomic rat panels cross of FH and BN that could aid in locating the chromosome region(s) that are at the very basis of the relationship between the slow wave sleep and activity. Similarly, examining the consomic rat panel cross between the SS and FH inbred strains for the chromosomal region(s) that influence the phase shift in the circadian pattern of slow wave sleep and activity could also help understand the complex basis of the early bird and night owl pattern of sleep that is observed in our society.

This research would be important in establishing the genomic basis of normal and abnormal variation in sleep patterns. Further research into the genetic basis of these differences may very well help dissect the multigenic and physiologic mechanistic pathways involved in circadian sleep and behavior in rats that would be homologous to those in humans.

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Contact: Donna Krupa
djkrupa1@aol.com
703-527-7357
American Physiological Society
19-Apr-2004

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