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. 2015 Dec 1;6:254. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2015.00254

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Copyright © 2015 Fenik.

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

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A hypothetical brainstem circuit that illustrates the key neuronal pools, which participate in the state-dependent control of hypoglossal motoneuron excitability during REM sleep. The reticular formation neurons (RF-neurons) integrate and mediate noradrenergic and serotonergic drives to hypoglossal motoneurons. The REM-OFF A7 noradrenergic neurons excite RF-neurons via α1-adrenoceptors. The RF-neurons are tonically inhibited by local GABAergic neurons, activity of which is controlled by REM-OFF raphe serotonergic neurons via inhibitory 5HT1 receptors. The mediators and receptors through which RF-neurons directly or indirectly excite hypoglossal motoneurons remain to be determined. A hypothetical REM-ON excitatory drives to hypoglossal and/or RF-neurons are controlled by GABA_A inhibitory receptors. The curved line shows the extent of the diffusion of antagonists that were injected into hypoglossal nucleus as discussed in this review.