help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kern, W.
Right arrow Articles by Born, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kern, W.
Right arrow Articles by Born, J.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 76, 1428-1432, Copyright © 1993 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Systemic growth hormone does not affect human sleep

W Kern, R Halder, S al-Reda, E Spath-Schwalbe, HL Fehm and J Born
Department of Clinical Neuroendocrinology, University of Leubeck, Germany.

Subsequent to sleep onset, GH concentrations increase markedly, suggesting a stimulatory influence of sleep on GH secretion. However, results have been inconsistent as to whether GH conversely exerts a significant influence on sleep. Hence, the effects of exogenous administration of GH and of GH secretion stimulated by GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) on sleep were reexamined in 3 experiments in healthy male volunteers. In Exp I, 12 men participated on 3 experimental nights, receiving a constant iv infusion of 5 IU GH (between 2100-0700 h), an im bolus injection of 5 IU GH at 2100 h, and placebo. In Exp II, the effects of a short iv infusion of a high dose of 48 IU GH (between 2345-2315 h) on sleep were evaluated in 3 men. In Exp III, the effects of continuous infusion of 30 micrograms/h GHRH (between 2200-0700 h) on sleep were compared to the placebo condition in 10 men. Experiments were double blind, within-subject, cross-over comparisons and included an adaptation night before experimental nights. On all nights, the subjects went to bed at 2300 h and were awakened at 0700 h. Administration of GH elevated plasma GH and somatomedin-C levels throughout the night (P < 0.005). Neither im administration of 5 IU GH nor iv administration of 5 and 48 IU GH had any effect on the total sleep time or the time spent in different sleep stages during the whole night or in the first and second halves of sleep time. Infusion of GHRH increased nocturnal GH secretion (P < 0.005), but the episodic pattern of GH secretion was maintained. However, sleep remained unchanged during GHRH infusion. From these results we conclude that in healthy man, systemic GH has no physiological role for sleep regulation.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 JAMAHome page
M. R. Blackman
Age-Related Alterations in Sleep Quality and Neuroendocrine Function: Interrelationships and Implications
JAMA, August 16, 2000; 284(7): 879 - 881.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. Moreno-Reyes, M. Kerkhofs, M. L'Hermite-Baleriaux, M. O. Thorner, E. Van Cauter, and G. Copinschi
Evidence against a role for the growth hormone-releasing peptide axis in human slow-wave sleep regulation
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, May 1, 1998; 274(5): E779 - E784.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [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
Copyright © 1993 by The Endocrine Society