Identification of the neuronal suppressor of cataplexy, sudden weakening of muscle tone

Narcolepsy is a disorder caused by losing orexin neurons, marked by excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, sudden weakening of muscle tone. Previously, we found two kinds of neurons preventing narcolepsy by receiving information from orexin neurons. Here, we have discovered that serotonin neuron, one of the two neurons above, inhibits cataplexy by reducing the amygdala activity, which controls emotion. Current discovery should lead to comprehension of the narcolepsy mechanism and to therapy development for cataplexy. …read more