Abstract
The thermosensitivity of the neurons in the diagonal band of Broca (DBB) was studied in 12 freely moving rats by determining responses to local cooling or warming with a water perfused thermode. Of 151 neurons studied, 37 (25%) neurons met the criterion for thermosensitivity including 17 warm-sensitive (WSNs) and 20 cold-sensitive neurons (CSNs). The spontaneous discharge rates of WSNs and CSNs were recorded through 1–3 sleep-waking cycles. The discharge of WSNs and CSNs during waking and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep were different. Of 17 WSNs, 10 exhibited increased discharge rates during NREM sleep as compared with waking (NREM/Wake discharge ratio, ≥ 1.2). Of 20 CSNs, 14 discharged more slowly during NREM sleep as compared with waking (NREM/Wake discharge ratio, ≤ 0.8). In both WSNs and CSNs, changes in discharge rate preceded EEG changes at the waking-NREM transition. These results support a hypothesis that the activation of sleep-related WSNs and the deactivation of wake-related CSNs play a role in the onset and regulation of NREM sleep.
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