Establishing a Device for Sleep Deprivation in Mice

Circadian rhythm disruption refers to the desynchronization between the external environment or behavior and the endogenous molecular clock, which significantly impairs health. Sleep deprivation is one of the most common causes of circadian rhythm disruption. Various modalities (e.g., platforms on the water, gentle handling, sliding bar chambers, rotating drums, orbital shakers, etc.) have been reported for inducing sleep deprivation in mice to investigate its effects on health. The current study introduces an alternative method for sleep deprivation in mice. An automated rocker platform-based device was designed that is cost-effective and efficiently disrupts sleep in group-housed mice at adjustable time intervals. This device induces characteristic changes of sleep deprivation with minimal stress response. Consequently, this method may prove useful for investigators interested in studying the effects and underlying mechanisms of sleep deprivation on the pathogenesis of multiple diseases. Moreover, it offers a cost-effective solution, particularly when multiple sleep deprivation devices are required to run in parallel.