Neuronal activity during sleep and complete bouts of hibernation

Abstract

Changes in arousal state in a euthermic mammal exert powerful influences on major neural regulatory systems. Changes in behavioral state occur at body temperature (Tb) greater than 25 degrees C during hibernation. However, no information exists regarding alterations in arousal states during deep torpor. In this study we used a combination of electroencephalographic, electromyographic, and posterior thalamic neuronal activity in ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) to evaluate arousal states during deep hibernation. No state homologous to rapid-eye-movement sleep was observed below Tb = 21 degrees C during hibernation. However, the animals did continue to cycle through states homologous to electrophysiologically defined wakefulness (AW) and non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep at all temperatures examined (Tb = 14-36 degrees C). These results extend previous observations that hibernation is not a homogeneous state. Instead, deep torpor consists primarily of a state similar to NREM sleep, interrupted periodically by short intervals of a form of AW. These periodic alterations in state should be accompanied by changes in the properties of many regulatory systems and must be accounted for in any theory of the neural control of hibernation.