Quinpirole Increases Melatonin-Augmented Pentobarbital Sleep via Cortical ERK, p38 MAPK, and PKC in Mice
Biomolecules & Therapeutics
;
: 115-122, 2016.
Article
in English
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-23491
ABSTRACT
Sleep, which is an essential part of human life, is modulated by neurotransmitter systems, including gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine signaling. However, the mechanisms that initiate and maintain sleep remain obscure. In this study, we investigated the relationship between melatonin (MT) and dopamine D2-like receptor signaling in pentobarbital-induced sleep and the intracellular mechanisms of sleep maintenance in the cerebral cortex. In mice, pentobarbital-induced sleep was augmented by intraperitoneal administration of 30 mg/kg MT. To investigate the relationship between MT and D2-like receptors, we administered quinpirole, a D2-like receptor agonist, to MT- and pentobarbital-treated mice. Quinpirole (1 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the duration of MT-augmented sleep in mice. In addition, locomotor activity analysis showed that neither MT nor quinpirole produced sedative effects when administered alone. In order to understand the mechanisms underlying quinpirole-augmented sleep, we measured protein levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and cortical protein kinases related to MT signaling. Treatment with quinpirole or MT activated extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), p38 MAPK, and protein kinase C (PKC) in the cerebral cortex, while protein kinase A (PKA) activation was not altered significantly. Taken together, our results show that quinpirole increases the duration of MT-augmented sleep through ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and PKC signaling. These findings suggest that modulation of D2-like receptors might enhance the effect of MT on sleep.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Pentobarbital
/
Phosphotransferases
/
Protein Kinases
/
Protein Kinase C
/
Dopamine
/
Cerebral Cortex
/
Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
/
Neurotransmitter Agents
/
Quinpirole
/
Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Biomolecules & Therapeutics
Year:
2016
Type:
Article
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