Cited by 145Circadian rhythm and melatoninStress Responses and CortisolSleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Sleep and circadian regulation of cortisol: A short review

Open access
O'Byrne, Nora A., Yuen, Fiona, Butt, Waleed Z., Liu, Peter Y.·2021·Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research

Abstract

The central circadian pacemaker (CCP) located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus drives the 24-hour pattern in cortisol, which functions as the main central synchronizing signal that coordinates peripheral clocks in organs that control whole body metabolism. A superimposed pulsatile pattern of cortisol allows rapid responses that fine tune the body's reaction to changes in the environment. In addition to coordinating metabolic processes to predictable environmental events, cortisol is the main catabolic signal which acts with testosterone, the quintessential male anabolic hormone, to maintain catabolic-anabolic homeostasis in men. Sleep restriction, when sufficiently substantial, increases late afternoon/early evening cortisol, but does not alter 24-hour cortisol; whereas even maximal acute circadian misalignment only slightly delays the cortisol rhythm. Prolonged circadian misalignment decreases overall cortisol exposure. The implications of these regulatory changes on health and disease requires further evaluation.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.coemr.2021.03.011

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  • Experimental administration of glucocorticoid synchronizes peripheral clocks in liver, muscle, adipose tissue, pancreas, and gut.

    “Experimental administration of glucocorticoid synchronizes the peripheral clocks located in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue which are the major storage sites for glycogen, protein, and fat, respectively, as well as other metabolically relevant organs such as pancreas and gut [60–63].”

    From Sleep, testosterone and cortisol balance, and ageing men (2022) · cites this paper as [62]

    In “Cortisol is the main metabolic central synchronizing signal” (page not provided), the review says timed glucocorticoid administration directly synchronizes peripheral clocks in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. It describes synchronization in pancreas and gut as putative, so the citing sentence overstates that part. (LLM, conf=0.91)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Cortisol, not melatonin, is the key metabolic central synchronizing signal.

    “This rhythm is important for its action because cortisol, not melatonin, is recognized to be the key metabolic central synchronizing signal [60–62].”

    From Sleep, testosterone and cortisol balance, and ageing men (2022) · cites this paper as [62]

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Authors
O'Byrne, N. A., Yuen, F., Butt, W. Z., & Liu, P. Y.
Affiliations
  • The Lundquist Institute (US)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Corresponding author
Liu, Peter Y.
Venue
Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-06
Volume
18
Pages
178-186
ISSN
2451-9650 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3152175603
Cited by
145
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 54 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 1
FWCI
1.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
Keywords
cortisol, circadian rhythm, sleep, suprachiasmatic nucleus, circadian misalignment, sleep restriction, testosterone

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