Frontiers in Pharmacology (Mar 2023)

Adenosine and P1 receptors: Key targets in the regulation of sleep, torpor, and hibernation

  • Wei-Xiang Ma,
  • Ping-Chuan Yuan,
  • Hui Zhang,
  • Ling-Xi Kong,
  • Michael Lazarus,
  • Wei-Min Qu,
  • Yi-Qun Wang,
  • Zhi-Li Huang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1098976
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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Sleep, torpor, and hibernation are three distinct hypometabolic states. However, they have some similar physiological features, such as decreased core body temperature and slowing heart rate. In addition, the accumulation of adenosine seems to be a common feature before entry into these three states, suggesting that adenosine and its receptors, also known as P1 receptors, may mediate the initiation and maintenance of these states. This review, therefore, summarizes the current research on the roles and possible neurobiological mechanisms of adenosine and P1 receptors in sleep, torpor, and hibernation. Understanding these aspects will give us better prospects in sleep disorders, therapeutic hypothermia, and aerospace medicine.

Keywords