An Excitatory Circuit in the Perioculomotor Midbrain for Non-REM Sleep Control - ScienceDirect

• Activity-dependent genetic labeling and gene profiling identify sleep-active neurons • CALCA-expressing glutamatergic neurons in pIII are NREM active and NREM promoting • pIII CCK neurons are NREM promoting and are reciprocally connected to CALCA neurons • Both cell types send long-range excitatory projections to other sleep-promoting areas Activity-dependent genetic labeling and gene profiling identify sleep-active neurons CALCA-expressing glutamatergic neurons in pIII are NREM active and NREM promoting pIII CCK neurons are NREM promoting and are reciprocally connected to CALCA neurons Both cell types send long-range excitatory projections to other sleep-promoting areas The perioculomotor (pIII) region of the midbrain was postulated as a sleep-regulating center in the 1890s but largely neglected in subsequent studies. Using activity-dependent labeling and gene expression profiling, we identified pIII neurons that promote non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Optrode recording

• Activity-dependent genetic labeling and gene profiling identify sleep-active neurons • CALCA-expressing glutamatergic neurons in pIII are NREM active and NREM promoting • pIII CCK neurons are NREM promoting and are reciprocally connected to CALCA neurons • Both cell types send long-range excitatory projections to other sleep-promoting areas Activity-dependent genetic labeling and gene profiling identify sleep-active neurons CALCA-expressing glutamatergic neurons in pIII are NREM active and NREM promoting pIII CCK neurons are NREM promoting and are reciprocally connected to CALCA neurons Both