Faculty Collaboration Database

Adverse effects of two nights of sleep restriction on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2014 Aug;99(8):2861-8

Date

05/16/2014

Pubmed ID

24823456

Pubmed Central ID

PMC4121029

DOI

10.1210/jc.2013-4254

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84905845339 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   82 Citations

Abstract

CONTEXT: Insufficient sleep is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. Alterations in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may underlie this link.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine the impact of restricted sleep on daytime profiles of ACTH and cortisol concentrations.

METHODS: Thirteen subjects participated in 2 laboratory sessions (2 nights of 10 hours in bed versus 2 nights of 4 hours in bed) in a randomized crossover design. Sleep was polygraphically recorded. After the second night of each session, blood was sampled at 20-minute intervals from 9:00 am to midnight to measure ACTH and total cortisol. Saliva was collected every 20 minutes from 2:00 pm to midnight to measure free cortisol. Perceived stress, hunger, and appetite were assessed at hourly intervals by validated scales.

RESULTS: Sleep restriction was associated with a 19% increase in overall ACTH levels (P < .03) that was correlated with the individual amount of sleep loss (rSp = 0.63, P < .02). Overall total cortisol levels were also elevated (+21%; P = .10). Pulse frequency was unchanged for both ACTH and cortisol. Morning levels of ACTH were higher after sleep restriction (P < .04) without concomitant elevation of cortisol. In contrast, evening ACTH levels were unchanged while total and free cortisol increased by, respectively, 30% (P < .03) and 200% (P < .04). Thus, the amplitude of the circadian cortisol decline was dampened by sleep restriction (-21%; P < .05). Sleep restriction was not associated with higher perceived stress but resulted in an increase in appetite that was correlated with the increase in total cortisol.

CONCLUSION: The impact of sleep loss on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity is dependent on time of day. Insufficient sleep dampens the circadian rhythm of cortisol, a major internal synchronizer of central and peripheral clocks.

Author List

Guyon A, Balbo M, Morselli LL, Tasali E, Leproult R, L'Hermite-Balériaux M, Van Cauter E, Spiegel K

Author

Lisa Morselli MD, PhD Assistant Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
Adult
Circadian Rhythm
Cross-Over Studies
Health
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
Male
Pituitary-Adrenal System
Sleep
Sleep Deprivation
Time Factors
Young Adult