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. 1981 Oct;74(2):399–404. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1981.tb09984.x

Effects of oxolinic acid on the sleep-wakefulness cycle of the rat

L D'Angelo, JM Monti
PMCID: PMC2071718  PMID: 7317689

Abstract

1 A study was carried out in rats (prepared for chronic sleep recording) of the effects of oxolinic acid on the sleep-wakefulness cycle.

2 In addition, the actions of oxolinic acid on the sleep-wake cycle were assessed after pretreatment with drugs interfering with central catecholamine mechanisms or facilitating central γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity.

3 Oxolinic acid (8-32 mg/kg) induced a significant and dose-related increase of waking EEG, while slow wave and REM sleep were decreased.

4 The effects of oxolinic acid on waking, slow wave and REM sleep were antagonized by α-methyl-p-tyrosine (50-100 mg/kg) which interferes with the synthesis of catecholamines.

5 FLA-63 (25 mg/kg) which is a specific inhibitor of noradrenaline synthesis, was effective in blocking oxolinic acid-related increase of waking and decrease of slow wave sleep.

6 Haloperidol (0.4-0.6 mg/kg) which blocks central dopamine and noradrenaline receptors, reversed oxolinic acid-induced actions on waking and slow wave sleep. Spiroperidol (2-4 mg/kg) which interferes with dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine mechanisms, only antagonized the effect of oxolinic acid on light slow wave sleep. REM sleep was further decreased by both neuroleptic agents.

7 γ-Hydroxybutyrate (25-50 mg/kg), which acts as a GABA agonist and amino-oxyacetic acid (20 mg/kg), which considerably increases central GABA levels, were ineffective in blocking oxolinic acid-related disruption of the sleep-wake cycle.

8 Our results suggest that the catecholamines are involved in the arousing effect of oxolinic acid.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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