The diurnal patterns of the adrenal steroids cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in relation to awakening

The steroid hormones, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are the two main peripheral secretory products of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal stress-neuroendocrine axis. The diurnal pattern of cortisol secretory activity has been well characterised. Various aspects of this pattern have been...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychoneuroendocrinology 2005, Vol.30 (1), p.51-57
Main Authors: Hucklebridge, F., Hussain, T., Evans, P., Clow, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activity levels. Psychomotricity
Adolescent
Adrenal
Adult
Awakening
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Circadian Rhythm - physiology
Cortisol
Dehydroepiandrosterone - blood
DHEA
Diurnal cycle
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hormones and behavior
Humans
Hydrocortisone - blood
Male
Middle Aged
Pituitary
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Vigilance. Attention. Sleep
Wakefulness - physiology
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Summary:The steroid hormones, cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are the two main peripheral secretory products of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal stress-neuroendocrine axis. The diurnal pattern of cortisol secretory activity has been well characterised. Various aspects of this pattern have been related to time of awakening, light exposure, psychological dimensions of affect, immune function and systemic health and well-being. DHEA is also an important adrenocortical steroid whose secretory activity has been related to immune function, psychological and health variables. The most pronounced feature of the diurnal cortisol cycle is a burst of secretory activity following awakening with a diurnal decline thereafter. We mapped DHEA secretory activity onto this cycle by measuring both steroids in saliva samples collected at distinct time points over the diurnal cycle, synchronised to awakening. Both steroids, particularly DHEA, showed stability across days of sample collection. A main distinction between cortisol and DHEA was that although DHEA was elevated in post-awakening samples compared with later in the day there was no evidence of an awakening stimulatory burst of DHEA secretory activity. Although DHEA in many respects paralleled cortisol secretory activity there was some dissociation; mean levels were positively but not tightly correlated. The secretory pattern of DHEA is very stable whereas cortisol secretory activity seems more sensitive to day-to-day variability.
ISSN:0306-4530
1873-3360
DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2004.04.007