J. Gardi et al., Diurnal variations and sleep deprivation-induced changes in rat hypothalamic GHRH and somatostatin contents, AM J P-REG, 277(5), 1999, pp. R1339-R1344
Citations number
55
Categorie Soggetti
Physiology
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-REGULATORY INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY
Previous reports indicate that hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormon
e (GHRH) promotes sleep and is involved in sleep regulation. The aim of our
experiments was to determine whether the GHRH and somatostatin contents of
the rat hypothalamus have diurnal variations and whether they are altered
by sleep deprivation (SD). Hypothalamic samples were collected at 10 time p
oints during the 24-h light-dark cycle. SD started at light onset. Hypothal
amic samples were obtained after 4 and 8 h of SD and after 1 and 2 h of rec
overy following 8 h of SD. The peptides were determined by means of radioim
munoassay. GHRH displayed significant diurnal variations with low levels in
the morning (a transient rise occurred at 1h after light onset), gradual i
ncreases in the afternoon (peak at the end of the light period and beginnin
g of the dark period), and decreases at night. SD induced significant GHRH
depletion, which persisted during recovery. The afternoon rise was delayed,
and the nocturnal decline of somatostatin was more rapid than the changes
in GHRH. Although the patterns of the diurnal variations in GHRH and somato
statin were similar, there was no significant correlation between them. SD
did not alter somatostatin significantly. Comparisons of the present result
s with previously reported changes in hypothalamic GHRH mRNA suggest that p
eriods of deep nonrapid eye movement sleep (first portion of the light peri
od and recovery sleep after SD) are associated with intense hypothalamic GH
RH release.