Narcolepsy in orexin knockout mice: molecular genetics of sleep regulation.
Journal:
Cell 1999 AugAuthors:
Chemelli RM, Willie JT, Sinton CM, Elmquist JK, Scammell T, Lee C, Richardson JA, Williams SC, Xiong Y, Kisanuki Y, Fitch TE, Nakazato M, Hammer RE, Saper CB, Yanagisawa M
Abstract
Neurons containing the neuropeptide orexin (hypocretin) are located exclusively in the lateral hypothalamus and send axons to numerous regions throughout the central nervous system, including the major nuclei implicated in sleep regulation. Here, we report that, by behavioral and electroencephalographic criteria, orexin knockout mice exhibit a phenotype strikingly similar to human narcolepsy patients, as well as canarc-1 mutant dogs, the only known monogenic model of narcolepsy. Moreover, modafi
...[more]nil, an anti-narcoleptic drug with ill-defined mechanisms of action, activates orexin-containing neurons. We propose that orexin regulates sleep/wakefulness states, and that orexin knockout mice are a model of human narcolepsy, a disorder characterized primarily by rapid eye movement (REM) sleep dysregulation.[less]
Mesh Headings:
Age of Onset, Animals, Benzhydryl Compounds, Carrier Proteins, Disease Models, Animal, Dog Diseases, Dogs, Electroencephalography, Electromyography, Humans, Hypothalamus, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins, Male, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Narcolepsy, Neurons, Neuropeptides, Phenotype, Posture, Protein Precursors, Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled, Receptors, Neuropeptide, Sleep, Sleep, REM, Species Specificity, Stereotyped Behavior