Sleep and Alertness Management II: Effects on Sleep Pattern and Sleep Quality in Marmosets (slaap- en alertheidsmanagement II: effecten op slaapritme en slaapkwaliteit in marmosetapen)

Abstract : In this study, the marmoset monkey model was validated using nocturnal electroencephalogram measurements for evaluating effects on sleep quality. In order to test whether the proposed sleep inducing drugs affect the quality of sleep and/or disrupt the normal sleep cycle/architecture, the effects of the short acting hypnotic drugs temazepam, zolpidem and zaleplon on sleep were determined in the marmoset monkey. The results showed that the marmoset monkey model is a valid model for the research of sleep. Furthermore, no large differences between the effects of the tested sleep inducing drugs on the quality of sleep could be observed. All three drugs tended to affect the quality of sleep in a positive way, but also induced some `rebound-effects'. All drugs, but temazepam especially, resulted in some carry-over effects,- i.e. after awakening animals tended to fall asleep again. On the other hand, after temazepam sleep spindles were observed often. These spindles lower the chance of awakening as a result of sensory input like noise. This was in agreement with the finding that after temazepam less frequent wakening was observed. Furthermore, there some indications that zolpidem has undesired effects in women. This might indicate that for the management of sleep in a military setting the sleep inducing drugs temazepam and zaleplon might both be useful, with the preference for temazepam.