Neuroendocrine Control of Sleep

Abstract

Sleep is a phenomenon in animal behavior as enigmatic as it is ubiquitous, and one deeply tied to endocrine function. Though there are still many unanswered questions about the neurochemical basis of sleep and its functions, extensive interactions have been identified between sleep and the endocrine system, in both endocrine system's effect on sleep and sleep's effect on the endocrine system. Unfortunately, until recent years, much research on sleep behavior largely disregarded its connections with the endocrine system. Use of both clinical studies and rodent models to investigate interactions between neuroendocrine function, including biological sex, and sleep therefore presents a promising area of further exploration. Further investigation of the neurobiological and neuroendocrine basis of sleep could have wide impact on a number of clinical and basic science fields. In this review, we summarize the state of basic sleep biology and its connections to the field of neuroendocrine biology, as well as suggest key future directions for the neuroendocrine regulation of sleep that may significantly impact new therapies for sleep disorders in women and men.

Role of Ovarian Hormones in the Modulation of Sleep in Females Across the Adult Lifespan

“…Homeostasis is observed through sleep pressure, which gradually increases in proportion to time awake, and decreases with time asleep ( 6 ). Adenosine levels follow the same pattern and serve as an index of sleep drive/need ( 7 ). Homeostatic regulation of the sleep–wake cycle is observable under sleep deprivation/restriction procedures, as extended time awake elevates sleep pressure.…”

“…Taken together, these findings suggest that high E2 levels inhibit spontaneous sleep in OVX rats, potentially promoting wakefulness to prepare for a more active dark phase ( 5 , 119 ). An expanded discussion of the potential mechanisms of ovarian hormones on sleep exists elsewhere ( 5 , 7 , 78 ).…”

Neurobiological and Hormonal Mechanisms Regulating Women’s Sleep

“…This is a public health concern because sleep is crucial for optimal health and well-being, and its disruption leads to dire consequences. For example, sleep deprivation increases risk for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and Alzheimer’s disease ( Meng et al, 2013 ; Vgontzas et al, 2013 ; Smith and Mong, 2019 ). Sleep disturbances are also associated with cognitive deficits such as reduced memory consolidation and inattentiveness, as well as psychiatric problems such as substance abuse ( Drummond and Brown, 2001 ; Johnson et al, 2006 ; Gujar et al, 2010 ).…”

“…It is still unclear why exactly organisms sleep, but the necessity of sleep for health and well-being is certainly clear. Disrupted sleep negatively impacts cognition, risk of disease and obesity, and numerous indicators of health ( Meng et al, 2013 ; Vgontzas et al, 2013 ; Irwin, 2015 ; Schmid et al, 2015 ; Smith and Mong, 2019 ). Sleep strengthens and consolidates memory ( Arzi et al, 2012 ; Diekelmann et al, 2012 ), and sleep disruption impairs this learning process ( Drummond and Brown, 2001 ; Gujar et al, 2010 ) as well as other cognitive processes ( Johnson et al, 2006 ).…”

Weight Loss Is Integral to Obstructive Sleep Apnea Management. Ten-Year Follow-up in Sleep AHEAD

“…There is evidence from RCTs to suggest that diet-only, exercise-only and combined diet and exercise interventions all attenuate OSA severity despite highly variable changes in weight 10 . These weight-independent effects of intervention on OSA severity are likely due to multifactorial mechanisms that may modulate upper airway stability, chemoreceptor sensitivity, visceral adiposity, neuroendocrine control, sleep quality and other aspects of OSA pathophysiology, which are yet to be discovered [10][11][12] .…”