Techniques for the Collection and Assay of Sleep Promotion Factor in Exercised and Sleep Deprived Dogs

Abstract

The problem. The Pieron Phenomenon is the production of sleep in fully rested animals after a ventricular infusion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from sleep deprived animals. According to the humoral theory of sleep, this is caused by the presentation of some sleep promoting substance (factor S) which depresses the brain. The somnolence produced is accompanied by an increase in slow wave sleep (SWS). Other factors which also increase SWS, such as exercise, may also do so through some mechanism involving the accumulation of factor S. Although this molecule is known to be a polypeptide with a molecular weight under 500, the structure remains unknown, greatly complicating the exploration of these relationships. Procedure. Schedules and equipment which permit controlled administration of exercise and sleep deprivation in dogs, and techniques for the removal and storage of CSF were developed and described. An assay procedure was described which makes use of the Pieron Phenomenon and the diurnal cycle of locomotor activity in rats. Summary. This paper describes several techniques which, when appropriately combined, can be incorporated into subsequent experiments measuring the effects of a variety of parameters on the productlon of sleep promotlng substance in the CSF.