ABSTRACT
Knowledge of the molecular consequences of sleep and sleep deprivation is essential to understand the restorative processes occurring during sleep, the cellular mechanisms of sleep regulation, and the functional consequences of sleep loss. This chapter reviews the available data about behavioral state-dependent changes in neural gene expression across sleep, waking, and sleep deprivation, starting with older studies focusing on total ribonucleic acid (RNA) or protein content. Then it discusses the results of more recent studies in which a candidate gene approach was used to analyze the expression of specific genes, particularly transcription factors. Finally, the chapter focuses on a recent whole-genome analysis in which our laboratory used first messenger RNA (mRNA) differential display and nylon membrane microarray, and then GeneChip technology to compare brain gene expression among sleep, spontaneous waking, and different periods of sleep deprivation ranging from a few hours to several days.
