Paradoxical sleep and memory storage processes.

Is there a sleep transmitter

3° L'envie de réagir

Profound anemia was observed to occur in 5 to 8 days in rats fed the anticoagulants phenylindanedione and dicumarol, when fast wave sleep (FWS) was prevented by the inverted flower pot technique. No anemia occured in groups of rats deprived of FWS or receiving anticoagulants only. Anemia was accelerated by parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA). Anemia was slight when limited FWS was allowed by use of a larger platform or a continuous feeding period. Red blood cell, hemoglobin and hematocrit values all fell dramatically. There was little evidence of hemorrhage grossly, such as occurs in anticoagulant-treated rats with stress. Histologic study failed to display bleeding or stress involution of lymphoid tissue but did show diminished splenic iron depots and diminished haemopoietic activity in the splenic red pulp. Electroencephalography showed with sleep deprivation, a greater amount of brain waves of the type normally associated with slow wave sleep. This effect was partially blocked by serotonin depletion through PCPA injections. It is suggested that the development of anemia is due to the combined effects of several mechanisms. The results support the view that FWS-deprivation is not a stress.

T.A. Cunningham

Papers

Anemia from sleep deprivation with anticoagulants in rats with enhancement by PCPA.