The neuronal network responsible for paradoxical sleep and its dysfunctions causing narcolepsy and rapid eye movement (REM) behavior disorder

Sleep stability and transitions in patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder and patients with Parkinson’s disease

“…J.A.E. Christensen et al / Clinical Neurophysiology xxx (2015) The sleep regulating mechanisms involve several neurons, which are mainly located in the basal brain regions (Luppi et al, 2011;Saper et al, 2001). Our findings suggest that these mechanisms are affected in patients with iRBD and specifically in patients with PD, suggesting iRBD as an intermediate stage between controls and patients with PD, consistent with Braak's staging theory (Braak et al, 2003).…”

“…The reason for this could be neurodegeneration of the ascending branch of the SLD neurons themselves or the heavy innervation between the REM-on and REM-off areas. As the descending branch of the SLD neurons are destroyed in iRBD patients (Luppi et al, 2013(Luppi et al, , 2011, it is very likely that the ascending branch are affected as well, as these neurons are physically adjacent to each other. In addition, the reported changes in dream enactment in these patients support the hypothesis that the medullo-cortical branch is affected as well.…”

“…Sleep is strongly regulated by groups of neurons located in the brainstem and midbrain areas, which form reciprocal connections (Luppi et al, 2011;Saper et al, 2010Saper et al, , 2001Schwartz and Roth, 2008). These ''sleep-wake switches'' are mutually dependent and have been referred to as the wake-sleep and REM-NREM sleep switches, respectively.…”

Sleep stability and transitions in patients with idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder and patients with Parkinson's disease

“…Our findings suggest that these mechanisms are affected in patients with iRBD and specifically in patients with PD, suggesting iRBD as an intermediate stage between controls and patients with PD, consistent with Braak's staging theory (Braak et al, 2003). Specifically, REM stability was affected, which involves the neurological networks controlling REM-NREM sleep transitions presented as consisting of REM-on and REM-off areas located in the brainstem (Lu et al, 2006;Luppi et al, 2011). The REM-on area is thought to contain two populations of neurons, where one set projects into the basal forebrain and regulates EEG components of REM sleep, and the other projects into the medulla and spinal cord and regulates atonia during REM sleep (Lu et al, 2006).…”

Pharmacogenetic inhibition of the subcoeruleus region influences rem sleep and cataplexy in narcoleptic mice

“…What remains unknown is the nature of the excitatory inputs onto the SubC. It has been postulated that there is a persistent glutamatergic drive onto the SubC of unknown origin [27].…”