SLEEP REGULATION IN THE STOP-NULL MOUSE MODEL OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

Abstract

Sleep disturbances are common in patients with schizophrenia. Mice lacking the cytoskeletal-associated protein Stable Tubule Only Polypeptide (STOP) display cognitive, behavioural and neurobiological deficits that mimic those seen in schizophrenia, but there is little evidence of sleep changes in these mice. To investigate their sleep patterns, electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram were recorded under a 12:12 light:dark cycle in adult male STOP-null (KO; n=7) and wild-type (WT; n=8) mice, during a 24 h baseline period, followed by 6 h of sleep deprivation, and a 24 h recovery period. In the baseline period, KO mice spent more time awake and less time in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM sleep compared to WT mice. Particularly in the dark phase, KO mice had more wake and NREM sleep episodes, and shorter NREM and REM sleep episodes relative to WT mice. Following sleep deprivation, during the first 12 h of recovery (i.e. dark phase), both groups showed similar increases in NREM and REM sleep amounts and NREM EEG delta power relative to corresponding baseline periods. These findings indicate that the STOP-null mice sleep less and their sleep is more fragmented compared to WT mice. These features are consistent with the sleep abnormalities found in individuals with schizophrenia.