methodological aspects of rem sleep- deprivation and stereological protocols in the brain-stem respiratory nuclei

sleep deprivation (sd) is known to result in a range of neurological, cognitive and physical consequences in chronically-afflicted subjects. the respiratory nuclei of brain-stem tend to play a pivotal part in the regulating sleep function, hence hypothesized to be affected in various types of sleep-related dysfunctions. the purpose of this methodological report is to explain the techniques of rem sleep deprivation and stereology which can be used to consider changes of the quantitative properties of the respiratory nuclei in sleep-deprived rats.