RNA-Seq analysis of galaninergic neurons from ventrolateral preoptic nuleus identifies expression changes between sleep and wake

Galanin neurons at ventrolateral preoptic nuleus (VLPO) have been hypothesized to be sleep-active neurons. With the use of laser capture microdissection (LCM), we specifically isolated single galanin neurons, and our goal was to assess expression changes in VLPO galanin cells between sleeping mice and mice kept awake using gentle handling. Tg(Gal-EGFP)HX109Gsat mice that express eGFP under the control of galanin promoter was used for LCM isolation of galanin-expressing neurons in VLPO. Fifty-four mice were separated into 9 groups (up to n=6 per condition) corresponding to baseline (Z0; lights-on), sleep(SS) or sleep deprivation (SD) for 3, 6, 9, and 12 hours.