Regulation of REM and NREM Sleep by Preoptic Glutamatergic Neurons.
Sleep May 26, 2025 Alejandra Mondino, Amir Jadidian, Brandon A Toth et al. 4 citations
The preoptic area of the hypothalamus, long thought to only promote sleep, contains glutamatergic neurons (MLPO_VGLUT2) that actually drive wakefulness and suppress REM sleep. Using fiber photometry in mice, these neurons were highly active during REM sleep, wakefulness, and brief arousals, but minimally active during non-REM sleep. Chemogenetic stimulation of MLPO_VGLUT2 inhibited REM sleep onset, independent of non-REM fragmentation caused by hypothermia, and blocked the REM sleep rebound normally seen after total sleep deprivation. Chemogenetic inhibition increased REM sleep time only during the light phase. Mapping showed these neurons project to brain regions that promote wakefulness and inhibit REM sleep. The authors conclude that MLPO_VGLUT2 powerfully suppress REM sleep, and their overactivation disrupts REM recovery.