Age and time-of-day differences in the hypothalamo–pituitary–testicular, and adrenal, response to total overnight sleep deprivation. Issue 7 (29th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Peter Y; Takahashi, Paul Y; Yang, Rebecca J; Iranmanesh, Ali; Veldhuis, Johannes D
• Is Part Of: Sleep. Volume 43:Issue 7(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01-29
• Subjects: human -- LH -- testosterone -- cortisol -- deconvolution -- sleep; Sleep -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sleep disorders -- Periodicals; Sommeil -- Aspect physiologique -- Périodiques; Sommeil, Troubles du -- Périodiques; Sleep disorders; Sleep -- Physiological aspects; Sleep -- physiological aspects; Sleep Wake Disorders; Psychophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.8498
• DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0161-8105

Abstract

Abstract: Study Objectives: In young men, sleep restriction decreases testosterone (Te) and increases afternoon cortisol (F), leading to anabolic–catabolic imbalance, insulin resistance, and other andrological health consequences. Age-related differences in the hypothalamo–pituitary–testicular/adrenal response to sleep restriction could expose older individuals to greater or lesser risk. We aimed to evaluate and compare the 24-h and time-of-day effect of sleep restriction on F, luteinizing hormone (LH), and Te in young and older men. Methods: Thirty-five healthy men, aged 18–30 ( n = 17) and 60–80 ( n =18) years, underwent overnight sleep deprivation (complete nighttime wakefulness) or nighttime sleep (10 pm to 6 am) with concurrent 10-min blood sampling in a prospectively randomized crossover study. F, LH, and Te secretion were calculated by deconvolution analysis. Results: Sleep deprivation had multiple effects on 24-h Te secretion with significant reductions in mean concentrations, basal, total and pulsatile secretion, and pulse frequency (each p < 0.05), in the absence of detectable changes in LH. These effects were most apparent in older men and differed according to age for some parameters: pulsatile Te secretion ( p = 0.03) and Te pulse frequency ( p = 0.02). Time-of-day analyses revealed that sleep restriction significantly reduced Te in the morning and afternoon, reduced LH in the morning in both age groups, and increased F in the afternoon in older men. Conclusions: These data suggest a time-of-day dependent uncoupling of the regulatory control of the testicular axis and of F secretion. Future studies will need to directly verify these regulatory possibilities specifically and separately in young and older men. Clinical Trial: Not applicable.