Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice

Summary

Here, we present experimental and analytical procedures to describe the temporal dynamics of the neural and cardiac variables of non-REM sleep in mice, which modulate sleep responsiveness to acoustic stimuli.

Abstract

Three vigilance states dominate mammalian life: wakefulness, non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep, and REM sleep. As more neural correlates of behavior are identified in freely moving animals, this three-fold subdivision becomes too simplistic. During wakefulness, ensembles of global and local cortical activities, together with peripheral parameters such as pupillary diameter and sympathovagal balance, define various degrees of arousal. It remains unclear the extent to which sleep also forms a continuum of brain states-within which the degree of resilience to sensory stimuli and arousability, and perhaps other sleep functions, vary gradually-and how peripheral physiological states co-vary. Research advancing the methods to monitor multiple parameters during sleep, as well as attributing to constellations of these functional attributes, is central to refining our understanding of sleep as a multifunctional process during which many beneficial effects must be executed. Identifying novel parameters characterizing sleep states will open opportunities for novel diagnostic avenues in sleep disorders.

We present a procedure to describe dynamic variations of mouse non-REM sleep states via the combined monitoring and analysis of electroencephalogram (EEG)/electrocorticogram (ECoG), electromyogram (EMG), and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals using standard polysomnographic recording techniques. Using this approach, we found that mouse non-REM sleep is organized into cycles of coordinated neural and cardiac oscillations that generate successive 25-s intervals of high and low fragility to external stimuli. Therefore, central and autonomic nervous systems are coordinated to form behaviorally distinct sleep states during consolidated non-REM sleep. We present surgical manipulations for polysomnographic (i.e., EEG/EMG combined with ECG) monitoring to track these cycles in the freely sleeping mouse, the analysis to quantify their dynamics, and the acoustic stimulation protocols to assess their role in the likelihood of waking up. Our approach has already been extended to human sleep and promises to unravel common organizing principles of non-REM sleep states in mammals.

Introduction

Mammalian sleep is a behavioral state of rest and of resilience to environmental stimuli. In spite of this apparent uniformity, polysomnographic and autonomic parameters indicate that sleep moves between qualitatively and quantitatively different neural and somatic states on various temporal and spatial scales¹. Over minutes to tens of minutes, the switch between non-REM and REM sleep occurs. Non-REM sleep is accompanied by large-amplitude, low-frequency activity in the EEG, with a spectral peak around ~0.5 - 4 Hz, whereas REM sleep shows regular EEG activity in the theta band (6 - 10 Hz), together with muscle atonia². W....

Protocol

All experimental procedures were performed in accordance with the University of Lausanne Animal Care Committee and the Service de la Consommation et des Affaires Vétérinaires of the Canton de Vaud.

1. Surgery for EEG/EMG-ECG Recordings

1. Animal housing and selection.
   1. Keep animals (C57Bl/6J, 7 - 9 weeks, 25 - 30 g) in a 12:12-h dark/light cycle, singly housed, and under standard conditions (40% humidity, 22 °C), with food and water available ad libitum.
   2. Use only male subjects to avoid all influences of the hormonal cycle on sleep.
2. Preparation of electr....

Results

Figure 2A (top panel) shows 100-min stretches of spontaneous sleep-wake behavior, recorded through polysomnographic electrodes implanted as described (see Figure 1). The increases and decreases of the EEG and EMG amplitude at non-REM sleep onset are clearly visible. Intermittent REM sleep is marked by a decrease in EEG amplitude and a further decrease in EMG tone that is not visible on this compressed time scale........

Discussion

Here, we show how to establish a continuous temporal profile of non-REM sleep that integrates EEG, EMG, and ECG variables. This is a first step towards developing an integrative description of mouse sleep, which can help to identify the previously unrecognized timescale over which high and low resilience to noise are organized during non-REM sleep¹. A similar temporal structure was also described in human non-REM sleep through an analogous analysis¹.

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
2-components epoxy glue	Henkel	Loctite EA 3450
Absorbable Suturing Fiber (Prolene)	Ethicon	5-0 FS-3
Adson Forceps	FST	11006-12
Antiseptic swab	VWR	149-0332
Attane Isoflurane	Piramal	Isoflurane 250mL
Connectors 3 x 2-channels	ENA AG	2.316	Raster 2.54 x 2.54 mm; size 5 x 8 x 9 mm; pin size 5 mm; http://www.ena.ch/
Dragonfly commutator	Dragonfly	Model #SL-10
EMBLA amplifier	EMBLA	A10 amplifier
Fine scissors	FST	14108-09
Flat Head Gold-plated steel screw	J.I. Morris	FF00CE125	https://jimorrisco.com/
Gold wire	CMSA	T.69 5gr	http://www.cmsa.ch/en/
Hemostatic sponge	Pfizer	Gelfoam
iodine-based disinfectant (Betadine)	Mundipharma	standart solution 60mL
Komet drill steel 1/005PM104	UNOR AG	22310
Matlab Analysis Software	MathWorks	R2016b	https://ch.mathworks.com/products/matlab.html
Microdrill	Fine Science Tools	96758
Mouse Gas Anesthesia Head Holder	Kopf Instruments	Model 923-B	http://kopfinstruments.com/product/model-923-b-mouse-gas-anesthesia-head-holder/
Ophtalmic ointment	Pharmamedica	VITA-POS
Paladur (liquid)	UNOR AG	2260215	for dental cement
Palavit (powder)	UNOR AG	5410929	for dental cement
Small Animal Stereotaxic Frame	Kopf Instruments	Model 930	http://kopfinstruments.com/product/model-930-small-animal-stereotaxic-frame-assembly/
Soldering wire	Stannol	593072
Temperature controller - Mini rectal probe	Phymep	4090502	http://www.phymep.com/produit/dc-temperature-controller/
Temperature controller- heating pad	Phymep	4090205	http://www.phymep.com/produit/dc-temperature-controller/