Age and time-of-day differences in the hypothalamo–pituitary–testicular, and adrenal, response to total overnight sleep deprivation

Peter Y. Liu, Paul Y. Takahashi, Rebecca J. Yang, Ali Iranmanesh, Johannes D. Veldhuis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberZSAA008
JournalSleep
Volume43
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Cortisol
  • Deconvolution
  • Human
  • LH
  • Sleep
  • Testosterone

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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