Dopamine Receptor Type 2-Expressing Medium Spiny Neurons in the Ventral Lateral Striatum Have a Non-REM Sleep-Induce Function

Abstract

Dopamine receptor type 2-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2-MSNs) in the medial part of the ventral striatum (VS) induce non-REM (NREM) sleep from the wake state in animals. However, it is unclear whether D2-MSNs in the lateral part of the VS (VLS), which is anatomically and functionally different from the medial part of the VS, contribute to sleep-wake regulation. This study aims to clarify whether and how D2-MSNs in the VLS are involved in sleep-wake regulation. Our study found that specifically removing D2-MSNs in the VLS led to an increase in wakefulness time in mice during the dark phase using a diphtheria toxin-mediated cell ablation/dysfunction technique. D2-MSN ablation throughout the VS further increased dark phase wakefulness time. These findings suggest that VLS D2-MSNs may induce sleep during the dark phase with the medial part of the VS. Next, our fiber photometric recordings revealed that the population intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) signal in the VLS D2-MSNs increased during the transition from wake to NREM sleep. The mean Ca²⁺ signal level of VLS D2-MSNs was higher during NREM and REM sleep than during the wake state, supporting their sleep-inducing role. Finally, optogenetic activation of the VLS D2-MSNs during the wake state always induced NREM sleep, demonstrating the causality of VLS D2-MSNs activity with sleep induction. Additionally, activation of the VLS D1-MSNs, counterparts of D2-MSNs, always induced wake from NREM sleep, indicating a wake-promoting role. In conclusion, VLS D2-MSNs could have an NREM sleep-inducing function in coordination with those in the medial VS.

Keywords: dopamine; optogenetics; photometry; population activity; sleep; ventral striatum.