Sustaining sleep spindles through enhanced SK2-channel activity consolidates sleep and elevates arousal threshold

Ralf D. Wimmer, Simone Astori, Chris T. Bond, Zita Rovó, Jean Yves Chatton, John P. Adelman, Paul Franken, Anita Lüthi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

58 Scopus citations

Abstract

Sleep spindles are synchronized 11-15 Hz electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillations predominant during nonrapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS). Rhythmic bursting in the reticular thalamic nucleus (nRt), arising from interplay between Cav3.3-type Ca 2+ channels and Ca 2+-dependent small-conductance-type 2 (SK2) K+ channels, underlies spindle generation. Correlative evidence indicates that spindles contribute to memory consolidation and protection against environmental noise in human NREMS. Here, we describe a molecular mechanism through which spindle power is selectively extended and we probed the actions of intensified spindling in the naturally sleeping mouse. Using electrophysiological recordings in acute brain slices from SK2 channel-overexpressing (SK2-OE) mice, we found that nRt bursting was potentiated and thalamic circuit oscillations were prolonged. Moreover, nRt cells showed greater resilience to transit from burst to tonic discharge in response to gradual depolarization, mimicking transitions out of NREMS. Compared with wild-type littermates, chronic EEG recordings of SK2-OE mice contained less fragmented NREMS, while the NREMS EEG power spectrum was conserved. Furthermore, EEG spindle activity was prolonged at NREMS exit. Finally, when exposed to white noise, SK2-OE mice needed stronger stimuli to arouse. Increased nRt bursting thus strengthens spindles and improves sleep quality through mechanisms independent of EEG slow waves (<4 Hz), suggesting SK2 signaling as a new potential therapeutic target for sleep disorders and for neuropsychiatric diseases accompanied by weakened sleep spindles.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)13917-13928
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume32
Issue number40
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 3 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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