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Effects of leptin on pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) neurons

  • Translational Neurosciences - Original Article
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Abstract

Leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite and energy expenditure, is increased in obese individuals, although these individuals often exhibit leptin resistance. Obesity is characterized by sleep/wake disturbances, such as excessive daytime sleepiness, increased REM sleep, increased nighttime arousals, and decreased percentage of total sleep time. Several studies have shown that short sleep duration is highly correlated with decreased leptin levels in both animal and human models. Arousal and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep are regulated by the cholinergic arm of the reticular activating system, the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). The goal of this project was to determine the role of leptin in the PPN, and thus in obesity-related sleep disorders. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were conducted on PPN neurons in 9- to 17-day-old rat brainstem slices. Leptin decreased action potential (AP) amplitude, AP frequency, and h-current (I H). These findings suggest that leptin causes a blockade of Na+ channels. Therefore, we conducted an experiment to test the effects of leptin on Na+ conductance. To determine the average voltage dependence of this conductance, results from each cell were equally weighted by expressing conductance as a fraction of the maximum conductance in each cell. I Na amplitude was decreased in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a direct effect of leptin on these channels. The average decrease in Na+ conductance by leptin was ~40 %. We hypothesize that leptin normally decreases activity in the PPN by reducing I H and I Na currents, and that in states of leptin dysregulation (i.e., leptin resistance) this effect may be blunted, therefore causing increased arousal and REM sleep drive, and ultimately leading to sleep-related disorders.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by USPHS awards F31 HL10842 (to PB), R01 NS020246, and by core facilities of the Center for Translational Neuroscience supported by P20 GM104325 (to EGR). In addition, Dr. Urbano was supported by FONCyT, Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (http://www.ifibyne.fcen.uba.ar/new/): BID 1728 OC.AR. PICT 2008-2019 and PIDRI-PRH 2007 None of the authors have a conflict of interest.

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  1. Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Center for Translational Neuroscience, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham St., Slot 847, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA

    Paige Beck, D. Keith Williams & Edgar Garcia-Rill

  2. IFIBYNE, CONICET, University of Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellon 2, Piso 2 (C14228EHA), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Francisco J. Urbano

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  1. Paige Beck
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Correspondence to Edgar Garcia-Rill.

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Beck, P., Urbano, F.J., Williams, D.K. et al. Effects of leptin on pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) neurons. J Neural Transm 120, 1027–1038 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-012-0957-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-012-0957-x

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