Association between the activation of MCH and orexin immunorective neurons and REM sleep architecture during REM rebound after a three day long REM deprivation

► Activation of MCH-ergic neurons positively correlates with the number of REM bouts. ► Activation of orexinergic cells negatively correlates with the number of REM bouts. ► Activation of orexinergic and MCH-ergic neurons shows a negative correlation. ► Activation of CART-immunoreactive MCH-ergic cells is caused by previous REM deficit.