REM sleep inhibition by desipramine: evidence for an alpha-1 adrenergic mechanism - PubMed

The acute administration of drugs that block norepinephrine (NE) reuptake suppresses rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in cats and other mammals. The mechanism is presumed to involve NE acting on cells in a pontine REM sleep-generator region. Postsynaptic noradrenergic receptor mechanisms have not been…