Sleep during concanavalin-A-induced hepatitis and peritonitis in inbred mice.

STUDY

OBJECTIVES

To assess the suitability of concanavalin-A-induced hepatitis as a model for investigating the relationships between hepatic disease and alterations in somnolence.

DESIGN

We characterized the sleep patterns of various strains of inbred mice undergoing ConA-induced inflammation.

SETTING

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL.

INTERVENTION: Intravenous or intraperitoneal administration of concanavalin-A.

PARTICIPANTS

Inbred mice.

MEASUREMENTS AND

RESULTS

Intravenous and intraperitoneal administration of concanavalin-A both elicited strain-dependent changes in slow-wave sleep. ConA treatment also reduced spontaneous locomotor activity. ConA-induced changes in slow-wave sleep varied with dose, route of administration, and circadian period of administration. As compared with the other strains, C57BL/6J mice had lower serum concentrations of interferon-gamma at 8 hours after ConA administration.

CONCLUSIONS

These data provide the first demonstration that sleep enhancement and reduced locomotor activity accompany hepatic inflammation in mice.