Melatonin and hormonal changes in disturbed sleep during late pregnancy

Abstract

Although sleep disturbance is commonly reported in pregnancy, there have been surprisingly few studies on the etiology of this condition. Since most hormones show circadian rhythmicity and maintain specific phase relationships with that of the sleep-wake cycle, it was of interest to establish whether sleep disturbances covaried with endocrine changes. This overnight study of pregnant women compared melatonin, cortisol, and prolactin secretion rhythms in six good sleepers and six poor sleepers. The groups were compared by ratios of the areas under the various hormonal curves. Significant differences in the cortisol/melatonin ratio were found between the poor sleeper group (lower values) and the good sleeper group (higher values). Nonsignificant trends, which might be expected to become significant with larger sample sizes, were found for decreased amplitude in the cortisol rhythm and increased amplitude in the melatonin rhythm in poor sleepers. The decreased amplitude of the cortisol rhythm in poor sleepers appeared to be due to a suppression of the early morning (0500-0800) rise. Prolactin levels were high and showed no rhythmicity in both groups. These differences may reflect changes in the circadian pacemaker system of poor sleepers, with increases in melatonin release being a response to counteract poor sleep.

Antepartum Depression Severity is Increased During Seasonally Longer Nights: Relationship to Melatonin and Cortisol Timing and Quantity

“…Although those women with medical disorders were significantly more anxious and depressed than controls, there were no significant differences between the groups in cortisol levels, as we found for HC vs. DP. Suzuki et al (1993) reported a trend towards decreased amplitude in the cortisol rhythm during healthy pregnancy, in association with a suppression of the early morning cortisol rise.…”

Sleep Complaints in Late Pregnancy and the Recurrence of Postpartum Depression

“…Although a sample of 5 women is insufficient to generalize to all women with a history of PPMD, there is empirical evidence that suggests early postpartum recurrence is associated with individual neurobiological sensitivity to the large scale hormonal withdrawal that accompanies childbirth (Bloch et al, 2003). It is conceivable that this group benefited the most from the hormonal state of late pregnancy via improved sleep (Baker, Mitchell, & Driver, 2001; Soderpalm, Lindsey, Purdy, Hauger, & Wit, 2004; Suzuki et al, 1993; Yamaoka, 1980) and mood (Bloch et al, 2003; Epperson, Wisner, & Yamamoto, 1999) given that late pregnancy is associated with 100-fold estradiol increases (relative to mean menstrual cycle concentrations), 10-fold increases in progesterone (relative to mid-luteal levels; Wilson & Parsons, 1996), and increased allopregnanolone concentrations. Progesterone and allopregnanolone are likewise associated with increased sleepiness via modulation of GABA A receptors (Lancel, Faulhaber, Holsboer, & Rupprecht, 1996; Lancel et al, 1997).…”

Exploring associations of maternal sleep during periconceptional period with congenital heart disease in offspring

“…Besides, two recent studies jointly revealed that melatonin is involved in embryonic cardiac development (Kudova, Vasicek, Ciz, & Kubala, ; Nogueira & Sampaio, ). Since it has been confirmed that sleep disturbance during pregnancy could interfere the rhythm and amplitude of melatonin secretion (Shimada, Seki, Samejima, Hayase, & Shirai, ; Suzuki et al, ), it is now an opportune time to explore the relationship of maternal sleep with heart development and disease. We hypothesized that poor sleep exposure during the key period of embryonic heart development might increase the risk of congenital heart diseases (CHD), cardiovascular malformations caused by abnormal cardiac morphogenesis during early embryonic development (Bouma & Mulder, ).…”