Zolpidem and zaleplon are distinguished from classical benzodiazepine by binding selectively to GABAA receptors containing the α1 subunit, a subtype of GABAA receptors thought to mediate sedative, anticonvulsive, and amnesic effects of benzodiazepine
drugs, whereas α2-containing GABAA receptors relate to anxiolytic and myorelaxant effects.91 Different mechanisms could explain the hypnosedative effects of drugs enhancing GABAA neurotransmission. Firstly, GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter system in the mammalian CNS, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical and GABAA receptors are ubiquitous in the CNS. Secondly, in the thalamus, these drugs could reinforce the inhibitory influence of GABAergic neurons of the reticular nucleus on the relay nuclei, which are the crossing points of all sensorimotor afferents going to the cortex.
The reinforcement of inhibitory influence on relay nuclei has been proposed to underlie the decrease of high-amplitude delta slow-wave activity and the concomitant Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical increase in sigma spindling activity during NREM sleep induced by drugs enhancing GABAA neurotransmission.92 Thirdly, since VLPO sleeppromoting neurons are GABAergic, drugs enhancing GABAA neurotransmission will reinforce the VLPO inhibitory effects on all wake-promoting structures. Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical Recent studies in a point-mutated mouse model have suggested that effects of benzodiazepines
on sleep-onset latency and NREM sleep microstructure are mediated through different subtypes of GABAA Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical receptors. Indeed, α2-containing GABAA receptors could relate to the reduction of NREM delta activity, while α1-containing GABAA receptors Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical could be implicated in the shortening of sleep-onset latency induced by benzodiazepines.93-95 Consequently, it may be suggested that sleep could be used a useful tool for the appraisal of α1 GABAA-mediated sedative versus α2, GABAA-mediated anxiolytic properties of a benzodiazepine drug. Other compounds enhancing GABAergic transmission could be valuable hypnotic drugs, some of which are currently in development. The drugs in question are another α1-containing GABAA-enhancing drug (indiplon), GABA analogues such as gabapentin, a GABA reuptake inhibitor (tiagabine), Bay 11-7085 and a GABAA agonist (gaboxadol).96 These agents, except gaboxadol, nonspecifically enhance GABAergic transmission through GABAA, GABAB, and GABAC receptors. It should be stressed that the hypnotic effects of GABAB and GABAC ligands are not selleck products qualitatively similar to those obtained with GABAA ligands.97 Major depression, REM sleep, and antidepressant drugs More than 90% of depressed patients complain about difficulties in falling asleep, sleep disruption, or earlymorning awakenings.