Response of astrocytes in rat hypothalamus to sleep deprivation of different time period

AIM: To explore the response of astrocytes in rat hypothalamus to sleep deprivation of different time period. METHODS: Forty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups and then in each group, 7 rats were deprived of sleep for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h respectively by housing them on the small platforms over water(SD), another 7 rats on the large platforms(TC)and 1 rat in the normal cage(CC). The number of rats receiving the same treatment was 3. The changes of the glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)expression induced by SD were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The expression of GFAP in hypothalamic nuclei changed along with the time lengths of SD. The expressions of GFAP in suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and in paraventricular nucleus(Pa) reached the peaks after 24 h SD, in arcuate nucleus(Arc) after 48 h SD and in supraoptic nucleus(SO) they increased as soon as SD began and reached the peaks 24 h later. CONCLUSION: It is possible that astrocytes participate in the regulation of biologic rhythm of hypothalamic nucleus.