| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 68, 904-911, Copyright © 1989 by Endocrine Society
ARTICLES |
J Born, E Spath-Schwalbe, H Schwakenhofer, W Kern and HL Fehm
Angewandte Physiologie, Universitat Ulm, West Germany.
We studied the effects of the hormones of the hypothalamus-pituitary- adrenocortical axis on sleep processes in normal men. In one experiment, 10 men received placebo, cortisol (6 mg/h), and ACTH (0.55 U/h) as continuous iv infusions from 2200-0700 h on 3 separate nights. In another experiment, placebo and CRH (30 micrograms/h) were administered to another 10 men in the same manner. The mean plasma cortisol levels were comparable during the cortisol and ACTH infusions (552 vs. 668 nmol/L). During both infusions, the time spent in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced compared to that during the placebo infusion, and the cortisol infusion significantly (P less than 0.05) enhanced the time spent in slow wave sleep (SWS). The CRH dose used only moderately increased plasma ACTH and cortisol levels; the changes in SWS and REM sleep during CRH infusion were in the same direction as occurred during the cortisol infusion, but were not significant. These results suggest that cortisol has a sleep modulatory effect. The decrease in REM sleep during the ACTH infusion may be mediated by the rise in endogenous cortisol. However, ACTH specifically altered sleep, in that it inhibited the cortisol-induced increase in SWS. Peripherally administered CRH had no intrinsic influence on sleep.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
T. M. Buckley and A. F. Schatzberg On the Interactions of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Sleep: Normal HPA Axis Activity and Circadian Rhythm, Exemplary Sleep Disorders J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 2005; 90(5): 3106 - 3114. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. N. Vgontzas, E. O. Bixler, A. M. Wittman, K. Zachman, H.-M. Lin, A. Vela-Bueno, A. Kales, and G. P. Chrousos Middle-Aged Men Show Higher Sensitivity of Sleep to the Arousing Effects of Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Than Young Men: Clinical Implications J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., April 1, 2001; 86(4): 1489 - 1495. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
D. GarcÍa-Borreguero, T. A. Wehr, O. Larrosa, J. J. Granizo, D. Hardwick, G. P. Chrousos, and T. C. Friedman Glucocorticoid Replacement Is Permissive for Rapid Eye Movement Sleep and Sleep Consolidation in Patients with Adrenal Insufficiency J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2000; 85(11): 4201 - 4206. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
E. Van Cauter, R. Leproult, and L. Plat Age-Related Changes in Slow Wave Sleep and REM Sleep and Relationship With Growth Hormone and Cortisol Levels in Healthy Men JAMA, August 16, 2000; 284(7): 861 - 868. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F.-C. Chang and M. R. Opp Blockade of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors reduces spontaneous waking in the rat Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 1998; 275(3): R793 - R802. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R.-M. Frieboes, H. Murck, G. K. Stalla, I. A. Antonijevic, and A. Steiger Enhanced Slow Wave Sleep in Patients with Prolactinoma J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 1998; 83(8): 2706 - 2710. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
E. Späth-Schwalbe, K. Hansen, F. Schmidt, H. Schrezenmeier, L. Marshall, K. Burger, H. L. Fehm, and J. Born Acute Effects of Recombinant Human Interleukin-6 on Endocrine and Central Nervous Sleep Functions in Healthy Men J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., May 1, 1998; 83(5): 1573 - 1579. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
A. N. Vgontzas, E. O. Bixler, D. A. Papanicolaou, A. Kales, C. A. Stratakis, A. Vela-Bueno, P. W. Gold, and G. P. Chrousos Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Correlates with the Overall Activities of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis and Sympathetic System in Healthy Humans J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 1997; 82(10): 3278 - 3280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Leproult, O. Van Reeth, M. M. Byrne, J. Sturis, and E. Van Cauter Sleepiness, Performance, and Neuroendocrine Function during Sleep Deprivation: Effects of Exposure to Bright Light or Exercise J Biol Rhythms, June 1, 1997; 12(3): 245 - 258. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Endocrinology | Endocrine Reviews | J. Clin. End. & Metab. |
| Molecular Endocrinology | Recent Prog. Horm. Res. | All Endocrine Journals |