TY - JOUR
T1 - Pulsatile cortisol secretion and EEG delta waves are controlled by two independent but synchronized generators
AU - Gronfier, Claude
AU - Chapotot, Florian
AU - Weibel, Laurence
AU - Jouny, Christophe
AU - Piquard, François
AU - Brandenberger, Gabrielle
PY - 1998/7
Y1 - 1998/7
N2 - We have previously described a temporal relationship between plasma cortisol pulses and slow-wave sleep and, more recently, an inverse significant cross-correlation between cortisol secretory rates and delta wave activity of the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG). The aim of this study was to observe ACTH, cortisol, and sleep delta wave activity variations throughout 24 h to get a better insight into their initiating mechanisms. Two groups of 10 subjects participated in a 24-h study, one group with a night sleep (2300-0700) and the other with a day sleep (0700-1500). Cortisol secretory rates were calculated by a deconvolution procedure from plasma levels measured at 10-min intervals. Delta wave activity was computed during sleep by spectral analysis of the sleep EEG. When delta waves and cortisol were present at the same time at the end of the night sleep as well as during the daytime sleep, they were negatively correlated, cortisol changes preceding variations in delta wave activity by ~10 min. Increases in delta wave activity occurred in the absence of cortisol pulses, as observed at the beginning of the night. Cortisol pulses occurred without any concomitant variations of sleep delta wave activity, as observed during wakefulness and intrasleep awakenings. In no case did delta wave activity increase together with an increase in cortisol secretory rates. In conclusion, cortisol secretion and delta wave activity have independent generators. They can oscillate independently from each other, but when they are present at the same time, they are oscillating in phase opposition.
AB - We have previously described a temporal relationship between plasma cortisol pulses and slow-wave sleep and, more recently, an inverse significant cross-correlation between cortisol secretory rates and delta wave activity of the sleep electroencephalogram (EEG). The aim of this study was to observe ACTH, cortisol, and sleep delta wave activity variations throughout 24 h to get a better insight into their initiating mechanisms. Two groups of 10 subjects participated in a 24-h study, one group with a night sleep (2300-0700) and the other with a day sleep (0700-1500). Cortisol secretory rates were calculated by a deconvolution procedure from plasma levels measured at 10-min intervals. Delta wave activity was computed during sleep by spectral analysis of the sleep EEG. When delta waves and cortisol were present at the same time at the end of the night sleep as well as during the daytime sleep, they were negatively correlated, cortisol changes preceding variations in delta wave activity by ~10 min. Increases in delta wave activity occurred in the absence of cortisol pulses, as observed at the beginning of the night. Cortisol pulses occurred without any concomitant variations of sleep delta wave activity, as observed during wakefulness and intrasleep awakenings. In no case did delta wave activity increase together with an increase in cortisol secretory rates. In conclusion, cortisol secretion and delta wave activity have independent generators. They can oscillate independently from each other, but when they are present at the same time, they are oscillating in phase opposition.
KW - Hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis
KW - Oscillators
KW - Pulsatility
KW - Sleep electroencephalography
KW - Spectral analysis
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U2 - 10.1152/ajpendo.1998.275.1.e94
DO - 10.1152/ajpendo.1998.275.1.e94
M3 - Article
C2 - 9688879
AN - SCOPUS:0031830609
SN - 0193-1849
VL - 275
SP - E94-E100
JO - American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
JF - American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism
IS - 1 38-1
ER -