Sleep deprivation effects on the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and growth axes: potential clinical implications

OBJECTIVES Although several studies have shown that sleep deprivation is associated with increased slow wave sleep during the recovery night, the effects of sleep deprivation on cortisol and growth hormone (GH) secretion the next day and recovery night have not been assessed systematically. We hypot...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical endocrinology (Oxford) 1999-08, Vol.51 (2), p.205-215
Main Authors: Vgontzas, Alexandros N., Mastorakos, George, Bixler, Edward O., Kales, Anthony, Gold, Philip W., Chrousos, George P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Circadian Rhythm
Functional investigation of endocrine glands and genital system
Growth Hormone - blood
Humans
Hydrocortisone - blood
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiopathology
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Male
Medical sciences
Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiopathology
Sleep Deprivation - physiopathology
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Summary:OBJECTIVES Although several studies have shown that sleep deprivation is associated with increased slow wave sleep during the recovery night, the effects of sleep deprivation on cortisol and growth hormone (GH) secretion the next day and recovery night have not been assessed systematically. We hypothesized that increased slow wave sleep postsleep deprivation is associated with decreased cortisol levels and that the enhanced GH secretion is driven by the decreased activity of the HPA axis. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS After four consecutive nights in the Sleep Laboratory, 10 healthy young men were totally deprived of sleep during the fifth night, and then allowed to sleep again on nights six and seven. Twenty‐four hour blood sampling was performed serially every 30 minutes on the fourth day, immediately following the previous night of sleep and on the sixth day, immediately after sleep deprivation. MEASUREMENT Eight‐hour sleep laboratory recording, including electroencephologram, electro‐oculogram and electromyogram. Plasma cortisol and GH levels using specific immunoassay techniques. RESULTS Mean plasma and time‐integrated (AUC) cortisol levels were lower during the postdeprivation nighttime period than on the fourth night (P 
ISSN:0300-0664
1365-2265
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2265.1999.00763.x