Adenosine kinase and 5′-nucleotidase activity after prolonged wakefulness in the cortex and the basal forebrain of rat

The effect of prolonged wakefulness on adenosine kinase (AK), ecto-5'-nucleotidase and endo-5'-nucleotidase activity was assessed in the present study. Rats were sleep deprived for 3 or 6 h, and one group was allowed to sleep 2 h of recovery sleep after the 6 h deprivation. The cortex and the basal forebrain were dissected, and frozen rapidly on dry ice. The enzyme activity of adenosine kinase was measured by monitoring the conversion of [2-H-3]-adenosine into [H-3]-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and the ecto-5'-nucleotidase and endo-5'-nucleotidase activities by monitoring the conversion of [2-H-3]-AMP into [H-3]-adenosine. The enzyme activities did not change during deprivation or recovery sleep in either cortex or basal forebrain when compared to unhandled controls. Significant diurnal variation in enzyme activities was noted in both brain areas. In the basal forebrain adenosine kinase and both nucleotidases showed their lowest activity in the middle of the rest phase, 6 h after lights on, suggesting a low level of adenosine metabolism, both production and degradation at this time point. In the cortex adenosine kinase had a diurnal activity pattern similar to the basal forebrain and the ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity was low already early in the rest phase, 3 h after lights on, and remained low until the end part of the rest phase, 8 It after lights on. Endo-5'-nucleotidase lacked diurnal variation. These activity patterns may be associated with the lower level of energy metabolism during sleep compared to wakefulness. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.