Effect of Sleep on the Central Nervous System.
Abstract
Neurons and glial cells from the IVth and Vth layers of frontal and occipital cortex of 24h sleep-deprived hamsters were examined under electron microscope for structural alterations. Nuclear membrane, chromatin distribution pattern, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, and cell membrane show no changes. The partial volumes of endoplasmic reticular cisternae increased by 37% but the surface area of the endoplasmic reticulum remained constant in the neurons of sleep-deprived animals. Also, the number of neuronal lysosome decreased by 36% and 18% in frontal occipital cortex. No changes in the liver cells were detected. The astroglial cells of the sleep deprived animals were found to contain large clear vacuoles. In 80% of the sleep deprived astroglial cells the endoplasmic reticulum vesiculated with partial desolution of its membrane as compared to only 14% in the control animals. There is no change in the surface area of endoplasmic reticulum. The volumes of astroglial endoplasmic reticular cisternae increased by 162% in frontal cortex nd 122% in occipital cortex of the sleep deprived animals. The fact that the surface area of the endoplasmic reticulum remains the same but the volume increases gives support to the idea that the membrane spaces seen in the astroglial cytoplasm are vesiculation of the endoplasmic reticulum rather than new formation. Incapacitating behavioral decrement associated with sleep loss may be a consequence and symptomatic expression of the type of subcellular disorganization observed in this study. These changes are reversible after 24 hrs of rest following sleep deprivation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA105422
Entities
People
- A. Sinha
Organizations
- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School