Sex hormones and adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH] alterations during sleep deprivation and recovery in adult male rats

ABSTRACT

Positive association between sleep efficiency and plasma testosterone level in men was demonstrated by previous studies. Stresses in general and sleep deprivation in particular alter the male reproductive function and several studies indicate that sleep deprivation alters male sex hormones levels. Low sleep efficiency was associated with attenuated testosterone level. However, little information was available about the alterations of male sex hormones during the recovery period following the sleep deprivation. So, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of 4-days recovery periods after 4-days sleep deprivation on male sex hormones and the role of ACTH hormone during both deprivation and recovery periods. Sixty four male albino rats weighing 200-250g each, were randomly distributed into three experimental sets sleep deprived [SD] groups, recovery [R] groups and control group. The SD rats [n=24] were divided into 4 groups SD1, SD2, SD3, and SD4 groups [each included 6 rats] that were subjected to SD for 1, 2, 3, and 4 days respectively. The recovery rats [n=24] were also divided into 4 groups [each included 6 rats] that were sleep deprived for 4 days and had left for recovery for 1, 2, 3, and 4 days; corresponding to R1, R2, R3 and R4 groups respectively. Finally, the control group included 16 rats. At the end of each group preparation, rats [control, SD and R] were sacrificed and plasma samples were collected for further measurement of testosterone, estradiol, progesterone and ACTH hormones. Compared to control rats, SD rats showed a significant [p testosterone and estradiol levels with an increase in progesterone and ACTH levels. On recovery, there were reversal of hormone alterations that was occurred during SD, however the level of the hormones did not reach the control levels except for progesterone which had insignificant difference between recovery and control levels. SD might show long lasting, differential effects upon male sex and ACTH hormones suggesting that each had its own pattern of response to SD as well as variable periods of recovery