Pocivavsek, A. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2022

Kynurenine aminotransferase II inhibition promotes sleep and rescues impairments induced by neurodevelopmental insult

Dysregulated sleep is commonly reported in individuals with neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BPD). Physiology and pathogenesis of these disorders points to aberrant metabolism, during neurodevelopment and adulthood, of tryptophan via the kynurenine pathway (KP). Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a neuroactive KP metabolite derived from its precursor kynurenine by kynurenine aminotransferase II (KAT II), is increased in the brains of individuals with SCZ and BPD. We hypothesize that elevated KYNA, an inhibitor of glutamatergic and cholinergic neurotransmission, contributes to sleep dysfunction. Employing the embryonic kynurenine (EKyn) paradigm to elevate KYNA in the fetal brain, we presently examined whether reducing KYNA in adulthood by pharmacologically inhibiting KAT II would improve sleep quality. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed either kynurenine (100 mg/day) (EKyn) or control wet mash (ECon) from embryonic day (ED) 15 to ED 22. In adulthood, male and female offspring were implanted with devices to record electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) telemetrically for continuous sleep-wake data acquisition. Each subject was treated with either vehicle or PF-04859989 (30 mg/kg, s.c.), an irreversible KAT II inhibitor, at zeitgeber time (ZT) 0 or ZT 12. KAT II inhibitor improved sleep architecture maintaining entrainment of the light-dark cycle; ZT 0 treatment with PF-04859989 induced transient improvements in rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) during the immediate light phase, while the impact of ZT 12 treatment was delayed until the subsequent light phase. PF-04859989 administration at ZT 0 enhanced NREM delta spectral power and reduced activity and body temperature. In conclusion, reducing de novo KYNA production alleviated sleep disturbances and increased sleep quality in EKyn, while also improving sleep outcomes in ECon offspring. Our findings place attention on KAT II inhibition as a novel mechanistic approach to treating disrupted sleep behavior with potential translational implications for patients with neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Estradiol Influences Adenosinergic Signaling and NREM Sleep Need in Adult Female Rats

Studies report estradiol (E2) suppresses sleep in females; however, the mechanisms of E2 action remain largely undetermined. Our previous findings suggest that the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) is a key nexus for E2 action on sleep. Here, using behavioral, neurochemical and pharmacological approaches, we investigated whether E2 influenced the sleep homeostat as well as adenosinergic signaling in the MnPO of adult female rats. During the Light Phase, where rats accumulate the majority of sleep, E2 markedly reduced NREM-SWA (a measure of the homeostatic sleep need). Following 6-hours of sleep deprivation, levels of NREM-SWA were significantly increased compared to baseline sleep. However, the NREM-SWA levels were not different between E2 and control treatment despite a significant increase in wake at the expense of NREM sleep. Analysis of NREM-SWA differences between baseline and recovery sleep following sleep deprivation demonstrated that E2 induced a 2-fold increase in delta power compared to controls suggesting that E2 significantly expanded the dynamic range for the sleep homeostat. Correlated with E2-induced changes in physiological markers of homeostatic sleep was a marked increase in extracellular adenosine (a molecular marker of homeostatic sleep need) during unrestricted and recovery sleep following a 6-hour deprivation. Additionally, E2 blocked the ability of an adenosine A2A receptor agonist (CGS-21680) to increase NREM sleep compared to controls. Thus, taken together, the findings that E2 increased extracellular adenosine content, while blocking A2A signaling in the MnPO suggests a potential mechanism for how estrogens impact sleep in the female brain. Statement of SignificanceWhile gonadal steroids and gender are implicated as risk factors for sleep disruptions and insomnia, the relationship between ovarian steroids and sleep is poorly understood. Understanding the mechanisms through which estradiol (E2) is working to influence sleep-wake behavior is a critical first step toward a better understanding of the role of estrogens in sleep pathologies. Using a rodent model, the current study presents novel findings suggesting that estradiol (E2) is influencing adenosinergic actions in the MnPO. The ability of E2 to attenuate the local effects of the A2A receptors in the MnPO suggests that E2 modulation of A2A receptor signaling may underlie estrogenic suppression of sleep behavior as well as changes in homeostatic sleep need.

neuroscience↗