Hypocretin Mediates Sleep and Wake Disturbances in a Mouse Model of Traumatic Brain Injury
Open accessAbstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of disability worldwide. Post-TBI sleep and wake disturbances are extremely common and difficult for patients to manage. Sleep and wake disturbances contribute to poor functional and emotional outcomes from TBI, yet effective therapies remain elusive. A more comprehensive understanding of mechanisms underlying post-TBI sleep and wake disturbance will facilitate development of effective pharmacotherapies. Previous research in human patients and animal models indicates that altered hypocretinergic function may be a major contributor to sleep–wake disturbance after TBI. In this study, we further elucidate the role of hypocretin by determining the impact of TBI on sleep–wake behavior of hypocretin knockout (HCRT KO) mice. Adult male C57BL/6J and HCRT KO mice were implanted with electroencephalography recording electrodes, and pre-injury baseline recordings were obtained. Mice were then subjected to either moderate TBI or sham surgery. Additional recordings were obtained and sleep–wake behavior determined at 3, 7, 15, and 30 days after TBI or sham procedures. At baseline, HCRT KO mice had a significantly different sleep–wake phenotype than control C57BL/6J mice. Post-TBI sleep–wake behavior was altered in a genotype-dependent manner: sleep of HCRT KO mice was not altered by TBI, whereas C57BL/6J mice had more non–rapid eye movement sleep, less wakefulness, and more short wake bouts and fewer long wake bouts. Numbers of hypocretin-positive cells were reduced in C57BL/6J mice by TBI. Collectively, these data indicate that the hypocretinergic system is involved in the alterations in sleep–wake behavior that develop after TBI in this model, and suggest potential therapeutic interventions.
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Animal models recapitulate sleep phenotypes of disordered sleep in humans, especially excessive daytime sleepiness.
“Animal models recapitulate sleep phenotypes of disordered sleep in humans, especially that of EDS.22,44,45,48,49,64–73”
From Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury on the Orexin/Hypocretin System (2025) · cites this paper as [48]
Some studies report a significant reduction of orexin neurons after injury.
“Some studies report a significant reduction of orexin neurons after injury.45,48,73”
From Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury on the Orexin/Hypocretin System (2025) · cites this paper as [48]
Orexin contributes to the difference between the sleep of sham-injured and injured animals after injury.
“This evidence suggests that orexin contributes to the difference between the sleep of sham-injured and injured animals after injury.”
From Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury on the Orexin/Hypocretin System (2025) · cites this paper as [48]
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Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury on the Orexin/Hypocretin System
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- Authors
- Thomasy, H. E., & Opp, M. R.
- Affiliations
- University of Washington (US)
- Corresponding author
- Opp, Mark R.
- Venue
- Journal of Neurotrauma
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2019-02-22
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 802-814
- ISSN
- 0897-7151 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-9042
- PMC
- PMC6387567
- OpenAlex
- W2888735213
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 2.08
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Journal of Neurotrauma (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Washington
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R21AI115706)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Keywords
- orexin, traumatic brain injury, sleep-wake disturbances, NREM sleep, wakefulness, sleep-wake behavior
- MeSH terms
- Orexins, Brain Injuries, Traumatic, Animals, Disease Models, Animal, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Sleep Wake Disorders, Mice, Knockout, Mice
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