Central responses to cholinergic drugs of REM sleep deprived rats.

The present work studied the effects of REM sleep deprivation on the responses to cholinomimetic drugs in rats. Cataleptic behavior induced by pilocarpine, oxotremorine and eserine was not modified by previous REM sleep deprivation. On the other hand, the intensity of oxotremorine- and eserine-induced tremors, but not that of pilocarpine, was clearly augmented in the REMd rats and latency to the first tremor was shorter. REM sleep deprivation also potentiated the convulsions induced by nicotine. Two hypothetical mechanisms through which REM sleep deprivation could lead to the described hyperresponsiveness to cholinomimetic drugs are discussed.