ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the impact of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep on the rat brain.Methods Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and neurofilament (NF) were used as two neuronal cytoskeleton markers.The modified multiple platform method (MMPM) was used to deprived rats of sleep.The immunohistochemistry method and Western blot technique were used to detect the expression of MAP2 and NF,together with the electromicroscope study to show the neurodegeneration in rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus.Results The expression of MAP2 and NF in cerebral cortex and hippocampal neurons decreased after 5-day sleep deprivation.Some uhrastructural changes were seen in those areas as well,such as displacement of the nucleus,slightly swollen mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum,dissolution or condensation of sheaths of some axons.Neurons in cortex with degenerated ultrastrutrue accounted for 1.2% ,3.6% and 5.8% in tank control group,sleep deprivation 5 d group and sleep deprivation 7 d group respectively.Conclusion REM sleep deprivation can induce neurodegeneration in rat brain,but these morphological changes are tiny enough to be considered as reversible.