Effect of REM sleep deprivation on gastric mucosa

Sleep deprivation is considered a risk factor for human health. Stomach lesions and formation of peptic ulcers have been reported in sleep-deprived animals. Ischemic damage of gastric mucosa can be montoring through impedance spectroscopy (IS). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rapid eye movement sleep deprivation (REMD) on gastric mucosa through IS, confocal endomicroscopy (CEM), Light Microscopy (LM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in a rat model. There were 6 rats by group: control, REMD for 24 h, REMD for 48 h, and REMD for 96 h. Animals were raised in groups and sleep deprived in a water tank containing 3 platforms. IS measurements, CEM images, and gastric mucosal samples were collected at the end of REMD period. Fluorescein and acriflavine stains were applied for CEM analysis. Then biopsies were processed by standard histological techniques. Impedance and fluorophore infiltrations increased along with REMD time, showing the greatest changes at 48 h, indicating an inflammation process. LM and SEM showed epithelial erosion zones with focal distribution are exposed, which denote epithelial cell loss caused by lethal damage. ANOVA test was used to evaluate variations between groups. Significant changes were observed for all impedance parameters among groups (P < 0.05). At 96 h there is a mucosal epithelium showing ischemia adaptation after sleep deprivation. The results suggest that there is an effect in gastric mucosa caused by REMD, showing the initial phases of the acute inflammatory response.