Ultradian rhythms in pituitary and adrenal hormones: their relations to sleep
Abstract
Sleep and circadian rhythmicity both influence the 24-h profiles of the main pituitary and adrenal hormones. From studies using experimental strategies including complete and partial sleep deprivation, acute and chronic shifts in the sleep period, or complete sleep-wake reversal as occurs with transmeridian travel or shift-work, it appears that prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) profiles are mainly sleep related, while cortisol profile is mainly controlled by the circadian clock with a weak influence of sleep processes. Thyrotropin (TSH) profile is under the dual influence of sleep and circadian rhythmicity. Recent studies, in which we used spectral analysis of sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) rather than visual scoring of sleep stages, have evaluated the temporal associations between pulsatile hormonal release and the variations in sleep EEG activity. Pulses in PRL and in GH are positively linked to increases in delta wave activity, whereas TSH and cortisol pulses are related to decreases in delta wave activity. It is yet not clear whether sleep influences endocrine secretion, or conversely, whether hormone secretion affects sleep structure. These well-defined relationships raise the question of their physiological significance and of their clinical implications.
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Sleep-wake homeostasis is a major determinant of growth hormone secretion.
“Taken together, these results indicate that sleep–wake homeostasis is a major determinant of GH secretion [59, 168, 186].”
From Sleep and metabolic function (2012) · cites this paper as [59]
Sleep timing, duration, and quality partly determine glucose tolerance, the 24-hour insulin release pattern, growth hormone and cortisol, and the appetite hormones leptin and ghrelin.
“glucose tolerance, the 24-h pattern of release of insulin, and the counterregulatory hormones growth hormone (GH) and cortisol, as well as of hormones involved in the regulation of appetite, such as leptin and ghrelin, are partly dependent on sleep timing, duration, and quality [59, 168, 186].”
From Sleep and metabolic function (2012) · cites this paper as [59]
Wake-sleep transitions inhibit cortisol levels, and sleep-wake transitions stimulate them.
“wake–sleep and sleep–wake transitions are associated with inhibition and stimulation of cortisol levels, respectively [59, 168, 186].”
From Sleep and metabolic function (2012) · cites this paper as [59]
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- Authors
- Gronfier, C., & Brandenberger, G.
- Corresponding author
- Gronfier, Claude
- ORCID
- Gronfier, Claude
- Venue
- Sleep Medicine Reviews
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1998-02
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 17-29
- ISSN
- 1087-0792 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2129517658
- Cited by
- 63
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 6 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sleep Medicine Reviews (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- ultradian rhythms, pituitary hormones, adrenal hormones, sleep, prolactin, growth hormone, cortisol, thyroid-stimulating hormone, circadian rhythm, sleep deprivation, shift work, pulsatile hormone secretion, sleep-wake cycle
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