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The locus coeruleus, catecholamines, and REM sleep: a critical review

1979; Academic Press; Volume: 25; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0163-1047(79)90212-7

1557-8003

Peter Ramm,

Photoreceptor and optogenetics research

The locus coeruleus (LC), point of origin of the majority of brain noradrenergic neurons, is given primary importance in some theories of rapid eye movement sleep (REM) mechanism and function. Jouvet contends that catecholaminergic neurons of the LC region are “REM-executive.” Others suggest that the function of REM is the maintenance of catecholamine (CA) homeostasis, in the LC and elsewhere. A critical reexamination of the literature, however, suggests that: (1) Lesion of the LC and/or disruption of most of its projections exert only minor effects upon REM. (2) Pharmacological incapacitation of CA neurons is followed by inconsistent effects upon REM. (3) Electrophysiological data do not specifically implicate the LC in generation of REM. (4) If REM participates in neuronal protein synthesis, it is a general, rather than a CA-specific, participation. It is improbable, therefore, that REM is essential to or an important factor in the maintenance of CA homeostasis. It is also unlikely that CA neurons are REM-executive, or that CA neurons mediate REM occurrence. CA influence on REM may reflect a general neuromodulatory function of LC neurons.