Abstract

We investigated the effects of the beta adrenergic blocker, propranolol, and the alpha adrenergic blocker, phenoxybenzamine, on sleep patterns in the rat by means of multiple 8-hr and 24-hr polygraphic recordings. Propranolol had no clear effect on time spent in walking, synchronized sleep or desynchronized sleep. Phenoxybenzamine at a dose of 40 mg/kg produced a significant increase in desynchronized sleep time and in the number of desynchronized sleep periods. This is consistent with the view that there may be a mechanism inhibiting the onset of desynchronized sleep periods which involves norepinephrine acting at alpha adrenergic receptors in the brain.

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