Molecular mechanisms of sleep‐wake regulation: roles of prostaglandins D 2 and E 2

Abstract

Although sleep‐wake cycles are repeated every day and night and almost one‐third of our lifetime is spent sleeping, the molecular mechanisms of sleep‐wake regulation have remained little understood. Recent experimental evidence indicates that prostaglandins (PG) D 2 and E 2 are probably two of the major endogenous sleep‐regulating substances, one promoting sleep and the other wakefulness, in rats, dogs, rabbits, monkeys, and probably in humans as well. Preliminary evidence indicates that the sites of action of PGD 2 and E 2 are located in the sleep and wake centers in or near the preoptic area and posterior hypothalamus, respectively.—Hayaishi, O. Molecular mechanisms of sleep‐wake regulation: roles of prostaglandins D 2 and E 2 . FASEB J. 5: 2575‐2581; 1991.