Sleep patterns over 21-day period in rats with chronic constriction of sciatic nerve

Abstract

The main purpose of the present study was to examine sleep patterns over 21-day periods of rats in a peripheral neuropathy model induced by sciatic nerve constriction. Evaluation of the recordings showed that chronic constrictive injury (CCI) induced sleep alterations such as reduced sleep efficiency and increased number of arousals, especially during the light period. Among these alterations, sleep patterns were most affected between day 2 and day 10. The rats took longer to get to sleep from day 2 to 7 days after the CCI in the light period. Additionally, latency to the first paradoxical sleep episode was reduced in the second to fourth day after CCI in both light and dark period recordings. In conclusion, sciatic nerve constriction induced poor sleep quality with disrupted sleep in rats, particularly during the first week of that condition.