文档文本内容
高中英语外刊时文阅读训练
专题25
褪黑素在REM 睡眠中的作用
Ⅰ.文章话题导入
Ⅱ.外刊原文阅读
Ш.阅读理解专项针对性练习
Ⅳ.话题高频词汇强化训练
Ⅴ.参考译文赏析
【话题·导语】
科学家们已经确定褪黑素受体MT1 是REM 睡眠的关键调节因子，REM 睡眠是记忆和情绪调节的关键
阶段。这一发现为治疗睡眠障碍和帕金森病和路易体痴呆等神经精神疾病开辟了新的途径，这些疾病与
REM 睡眠中断有关。
【原文·外刊阅读】
Melatonin’s Key Role in REM Sleep Revealed
（文章来源：Sci Tech Daily）
A recent study from the Research Institute at McGill
University Health Center may improve the treatment of
sleep disorders and neurological conditions.
Scientists have made a significant advancement in
comprehending sleep mechanisms, identifying the melatonin
receptor MT1 as a key regulator of REM (Rapid Eye
Movement) sleep. This discovery holds promise for new treatments for sleep disorders and related
neuropsychiatric conditions.
REM sleep is crucial for dreaming, memory consolidation, and emotional regulation. In the brain, the
melatonin MT1 receptor affects a type of neuron that synthesizes the neurotransmitter and hormone
noradrenaline, found in an area known as the Locus Coeruleus, or “blue spot” in Latin. During REM
sleep, these neurons quiet down and stop their activity. Serious conditions such as Parkinson’s disease
and Lewy body dementia — which currently lack effective treatments — are linked to disruptions in
REM sleep.
“This discovery not only advances our understanding of sleep mechanisms but also holds significant
clinical potential,” said Gabriella Gobbi, principal investigator of a new study published in the Journal of
Neuroscience. She is a Professor of Psychiatry at McGill University, clinician-scientist at the Research
Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, and Canada Research Chair in Therapeutics for Mental
Health.
The science of snoozing
Human sleep unfolds in a precise sequence of non-REM and REM stages, each serving distinct
physiological functions. REM sleep plays a pivotal role in memory consolidation and emotional regulation.
Non-REM sleep supports physical recovery and repair processes. Disruptions in this cycle can impair
cognitive function and increase vulnerability to neuropsychiatric diseases.
Until now, the specific receptor triggering REM sleep had eluded scientists. The new study has
identified the melatonin MT1 receptor as an important regulator of this sleep stage. Using a novel drug
targeting MT1 receptors, researchers successfully enhanced REM sleep duration in experimental animals,
while simultaneously reducing neuronal activity.
“Currently, there are no drugs specifically targeting REM sleep. Most hypnotic drugs on the market,
while extending total sleep duration, tend to adversely affect REM sleep,” said Dr. Stefano Comai, co-
senior author of the study and Professor at the University of Padua and Adjunct Professor at McGill
University.
Further research into the neurobiology and pharmacology of REM sleep is crucial for developing
targeted treatments that could improve the quality of life for patients affected by these debilitating
diseases, according to the researchers. As scientists continue to explore the complexities of sleep
regulation, the hope for effective interventions in neurological disorders grows increasingly promising.
【原创·阅读理解】
1. What recent discovery regarding sleep mechanisms was made by researchers at McGill University
Health Center?
A. The role of caffeine in sleep regulation.
B. The melatonin receptor MT1 as a key regulator of REM sleep.
C. The connection between sleep and diet.
D. New methods for measuring sleep quality.
2. Why is REM sleep considered crucial for humans?
A. It is the stage where physical recovery occurs.
B. It is essential for dreaming, memory consolidation, and emotional regulation.
C. It helps regulate body temperature.
D. It is the longest sleep stage in the cycle.
3. Which neurotransmitter's activity is influenced by the melatonin MT1 receptor during REM sleep?
A. Serotonin
B. Dopamine
C. Noradrenaline
D. Acetylcholine
4. What is the current status of drug treatments targeting REM sleep?
A. There are many effective drugs available.
B. No drugs specifically target REM sleep currently.
C. All hypnotic drugs enhance REM sleep.
D. REM sleep drugs have been banned.
5. What potential impact does the discovery of the MT1 receptor have on patients with neurological
conditions?
A. It could lead to new treatments for sleep disorders and neuropsychiatric conditions.
B. It may result in the development of a sleep-monitoring device.
C. It is unlikely to affect treatments for neurological conditions.
D. It only improves physical recovery processes.
【高频词汇训练】
1．Lack of sleep can result in attention disorders and poor (academy)performance.(所给词的适当形式
填空)
2．He worked as a motor (mechanical). (所给词的适当形式填空)
3．The WHO says superbugs can also pass along genetic material helps other bacteria become resistant
to drug treatment. (用适当的词填空)
4．All the new employees are asked to learn about the rules and (regulate) of the company and
they must obey them.
5．Ash from a volcanic (erupt) in Iceland has begun disrupting air traffic in Britain. （所给单词适当形式填
空）
6．If the clinic is equipped with (adjust) chairs, it will be more convenient for the dentists. (所给词的适
当形式填空)
7．The tale (unfold) by her was really impressive. （所给词的适当形式填空）
8．All these have laid a solid political (found) for consolidated national unity. (所给词的适当形式填
空)
9．Government (intervene) to regulate prices aims to lessen the destructive effects of economic
depression. (所给词的适当形式填空)
10．If you are in need of an (extend) of the deadline, simply explain the situation to the professor. (所给词
的适当形式填空)
【参考译文】
褪黑素在REM 睡眠中的作用
麦吉尔大学健康中心研究所最近的一项研究可能会改善睡眠障碍和神经系统疾病的治疗。
科学家们在理解睡眠机制方面取得了重大进展，确定褪黑素受体MT1 是REM（快速眼动）睡眠的关
键调节因子。这一发现为睡眠障碍和相关神经精神疾病的新疗法带来了希望。
REM 睡眠对做梦、记忆巩固和情绪调节至关重要。在大脑中，褪黑素MT1 受体影响一种合成神经递
质和去甲肾上腺素激素的神经元，这种神经元存在于被称为Locus Coeruleus 或拉丁语中的“蓝点”的区
域。在REM 睡眠期间，这些神经元会安静下来并停止活动。帕金森病和路易体痴呆等严重疾病目前缺乏
有效的治疗方法，与REM 睡眠中断有关。
《神经科学杂志》发表的一项新研究的首席研究员加布里埃拉·戈比说：“这一发现不仅深化了我们对
睡眠机制的理解，而且具有巨大的临床潜力。”。她是麦吉尔大学精神病学教授、麦吉尔大学健康中心研
究所临床医生、加拿大心理健康治疗学研究主席。
打盹的科学
人类睡眠以非快速眼动和快速眼动阶段的精确顺序展开，每个阶段都有不同的生理功能。REM 睡眠在
记忆巩固和情绪调节中起着关键作用。非快速眼动睡眠支持身体恢复和修复过程。这种循环的中断会损害
认知功能，增加患神经精神疾病的风险。
到目前为止，科学家们还没有发现触发REM 睡眠的特定受体。这项新研究已经确定褪黑素MT1 受体
是这一睡眠阶段的重要调节因子。使用一种靶向MT1 受体的新药，研究人员成功地延长了实验动物的
REM 睡眠时间，同时减少了神经元活动。
“目前，还没有专门针对REM 睡眠的药物。市场上大多数催眠药物在延长总睡眠时间的同时，往往
会对REM 睡眠产生不利影响，”该研究的共同资深作者、帕多瓦大学教授、麦吉尔大学兼职教授Stefano
Comai 博士说。
研究人员表示，对REM 睡眠的神经生物学和药理学的进一步研究对于开发有针对性的治疗方法至关
重要，这些治疗方法可以提高受这些衰弱性疾病影响的患者的生活质量。随着科学家们继续探索睡眠调节
的复杂性，对神经系统疾病进行有效干预的希望越来越大。
