Effects of hCRH on sleep and body temperature rhythms

Author(s): Uchimura, N., Sakamoto, T., Maeda, H., Kotorii, T.

Journal/Book: Psychiat Clin Neurosciences. 1995; 49: 54 University St, P O Box 378, Carlton 3053, Australia. Blackwell Science Publ Austr. 299-304.

Abstract: We investigated the effects of human corticotropin-releasing hormone (hCRH) on the sleep structure and body temperature rhythms of seven healthy young men. Polysomnographic recordings were obtained and body temperatures were monitored continuously for 48 h in each subject following the intravenous administration of saline or of 100 mu g hCRH. The administration of hCRH was associated with a significant phase-advancement in body temperature rhythm vs the saline control. The administration of hCRH affected non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep by reducing significantly slow wave sleep (SWS) and sleep efficiency, whereas the percentage of sleep stages 1 and 2 were increased significantly. These changes in body temperature rhythms and sleep structure induced by hCRH resembled those observed in patients with endogenous depression, except for the findings during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. We hypothesize that a hypersecretion of hCRH in patients with endogenous depression may help to explain the changes in body temperature rhythms and sleep structure often reported in such patients. .

Note: Article Y Tsuchiyama, Kurume Univ, Sch Med, Dept Neuropsychiat, 67 Asahi Machi, Kurume, Fukuoka 830, Japan

Keyword(s): body temperature rhythm; depression; human corticotropin-releasing hormone; polysomnography; CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING FACTOR; ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC SLEEP; DEPRESSIVE-ILLNESS; CIRCADIAN-RHYTHMS; MAJOR DEPRESSION; NERVOUS-SYSTEM; EEG SLEEP; ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN; CORTISOL; HORMONE

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