The effects of paradoxical sleep deprivation on estrous cycles of the female rats

Author(s)

Antunes, Isabela B. ; Andersen, Monica L. ; Baracat, Edmundo C. ; Tufik, Sergio ^[4]

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Hormones and Behavior; v. 49, n. 4, p. 433-440, Apr. 2006.
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology

Abstract

The present purpose was to examine how sleep deprivation affects the estrous cycle of the female rat. Paradoxical sleep-deprived (PSD) adult female Wistar rats were compared to home-cage control (CTRL) on their estrous cyclicity. Forty-four PSD and forty-four CTRL female rats were distributed into 4 subgroups of 11 animals each according to the phase of estrous cycle and were subjected to sleep deprivation for 96 h by the multiple platform technique. After PSD period, vaginal estrous cycles were taken for an additional 9 days. Animals that were submitted to PSD in diestrus phase (PSD-diestrus) had their estrous cycles disrupted during the recovery period by showing a constant diestrus during the first week. As for hormone alterations, progesterone concentrations were statistically higher in PSD-diestrus compared to respective phase control and to PSD-proestrus and PSD-estrus rats while CTRL-metestrus had higher levels than CTRL-proestrus and estrus groups. Testosterone was significantly decreased in PSD-estrus in relation to PSD-proestrus and PSD-diestrus groups and was lower in CTRL-diestrus rats than in home-cage rats in proestrus. In addition, PSD-diestrus phase exhibited higher concentrations of corticosterone and lower estrogen than the respective control rats. These data indicate that PSD may modulate the ovarian hormone release through alterations in hormonal-neurochemical mechanisms. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 98/14303-3 - Center for Sleep Studies
• Grantee: Sergio Tufik
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC