Ondo W G, Zhao H R, Le W D
Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Sleep Med. 2007 Jun;8(4):344-8. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2007.03.010. Epub 2007 Apr 30.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common disease with prevalence up to 10% in the general population. It is mostly a subjective condition, making animal models intrinsically difficult. General increased activity (urge to move) and limb movements consistent with periodic limb movements of sleep, seen in most patients with RLS, are currently our best behavioral markers. Our best understanding of human RLS demonstrates reduced central nervous system (CNS) iron stores and dysfunction of dopaminergic systems, which most likely involves the spinal cord. Based upon this knowledge, animal manipulations, including destruction of the A11 diencephalic-spinal tract and iron deprivation, have resulted in animal behavior consistent with RLS. Dopamine receptor type 3 knockout mice also show general increased activity. Pharmacologic blockade of dopamine receptors in rodents has also caused movements resembling periodic limb movements of sleep in older rodents but not in younger animals. More sophisticated animal modeling is needed to facilitate our understanding of RLS.
不宁腿综合征（RLS）是一种常见疾病，在普通人群中的患病率高达10%。它主要是一种主观病症，使得动物模型本质上具有难度。在大多数RLS患者中可见的一般性活动增加（活动冲动）以及与睡眠期周期性肢体运动一致的肢体运动，是目前我们最好的行为标志物。我们对人类RLS的最佳理解表明，中枢神经系统（CNS）铁储备减少以及多巴胺能系统功能障碍，这很可能涉及脊髓。基于这一认识，包括破坏A11间脑脊髓束和铁缺乏在内的动物操作，已导致与RLS一致的动物行为。多巴胺3型受体敲除小鼠也表现出一般性活动增加。对啮齿动物多巴胺受体的药物阻断也在老年啮齿动物中引起了类似于睡眠期周期性肢体运动的运动，但在年幼动物中未出现。需要更复杂的动物模型来促进我们对RLS的理解。
