Hormones, hormonal agents, and neuropeptides involved in the neuroendocrine regulation of sleep in humans

Abstract

Sleep is an essential ubiquitous biological process, a periodical state of quiescence in which there is minimal processing of sensory information and no interaction with conspecifics or the environment. Despite relevant research on sleep structure and testing of numerous endogenous sleep-affecting chemicals, questions as to the precise mechanisms and functions of sleep remain without satisfactory responses. The purpose of this review is to report on current evidence as regards the effect of several endogenous and exogenous hormones, hormonal agents, and neuropeptides on sleep onset or wake process, when administered in humans in specific doses and via different routes. The actions of several peptides are presented in detail. Some of them (growth hormone releasing hormone, ghrelin, galanin, neuropeptide Y) seem to promote sleep, whereas others (corticotropin, somatostatin) impair its continuity.

CLOCK, PER2 and BMAL1 DNA Methylation: Association with Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Characteristics and Monounsaturated Fat Intake

“…Ghrelin stimulates food intake and recent evidence suggests that ghrelin promotes sleep (Kotronoulas et al, 2009 (Garaulet et al, 2011b). In this sense, although not yet well known, melatonin, the major hormonal regulator of circadian rhythm, works via epigenetic processes through modulation of histone acetylation and DNA methylation (Korkmaz et al, 2009).…”

Tryptophan-enriched cereal intake improves nocturnal sleep, melatonin, serotonin, and total antioxidant capacity levels and mood in elderly humans

“…Nocturnal sleep is an active physiologic process that seems to contribute to the neutralization of free radicals through immune system (Paredes et al 2009a), consolidates memory (Maquet et al 2010), and reconstitutes body tissues ). Many hormones and neurotransmitters are involved in sleep regulation (Sánchez et al 2010;Kotronoulas et al 2009) being of importance the indole melatonin and the neurotransmitter serotonin (Hajak et al 1991;Silber and Schmitt 2009). Since both serotonin and melatonin circulating levels decrease with increasing age, the occurrence of sleep problems in the elderly may be a consequence of the age-related impairment in the synthesis and secretion of both the neurotransmitter and the indole (Zhdanova et al 2001).…”

Humidity and sleep: a review on thermal aspect

“…The neuro-humoral dimension of sleep state probability regulation is a comprehensively established area (Stiller and Postolache 2005;Steiger 2007;Stenberg 2007;Kotronoulas et al 2009;Shechter and Boivin 2010). In the absence of efferent neuronal transmission, neuro-humoral component can control circadian locomotor rhythms, at least in part -the evidence may give some elementary understanding of functional interplay between neuronal and neuro-humoral components of the circadian system in sleep regulation as well (Stiller and Postolache 2005).…”