Activation of RMTg–projecting LHb neurons mimics the effects of chronic stress on sleep/wake states.

(A, C, E) Left: time course changes of REM sleep and wakefulness of mice in different experimental groups. All mice received i.p. injection of CNO (1 mg/kg). EGFP–CNO (n = 6 animals/group): mice that received DRN (A) or VTA (C) or RMTg (E) injection of rAAV2/2–Retro–Cre and LHb injection of AAV2/9–DIO–EGFP; hM3Dq–CNO: mice that received DRN (A, n = 6 animals) or VTA (C, n = 6 animals) or RMTg (E, n = 7 animals) injection of rAAV2/2–Retro–Cre and LHb injection of AAV2/9–DIO–hM3Dq–EGFP. Right: REM sleep and wakefulness amounts during the whole day (24 h), light phase (ZT 0 –ZT 12) and dark phase (ZT 12 –ZT 24) of mice EGFP–CNO and hM3Dq–CNO groups. (B, D, F) Number of transitions between different pair of brain states during the light phase (ZT 0 –ZT 12) and dark phase (ZT 12 –ZT 24) of mice in EGFP–CNO and hM3Dq–CNO groups. W–N: Wake to NREM; N–W: NREM to Wake; N–R: NREM to REM. For all figures: one–way ANOVA test, *, P P P (TIF)