[Thyroid gland and sleep]
1Psychiatrischen Klinik des Max-Planck-Instituts für Psychiatrie, München, Deutschland. steiger@mpipsykl.mpg.de
Abstract:
A set of data suggests that the thyroid gland plays a role in the bi-directional interaction between the electrophysiological and the endocrine components of sleep, e.g. the nonREM-REM-cycle and the patterns of nocturnal hormone secretion, respectively. In detail thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroxin (T4) show circadian rhythms. A specific relationship was observed between TSH and REM sleep. Blunted TSH levels were found in healthy elderly subjects and, probably due to overactivity of corticotropin-releasing hormone in patients with depression in comparison to young normal controls. Pulsatile administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone induced a decrease of sleep efficiency and an earlier occurrence of the cortisol rise in normal controls. Slow wave sleep was reduced in patients with hypothyroidism in comparison to normal controls. The sleep EEG normalised after therapy.
Related Concept Videos
The Thyroid Gland
The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
Synthesis and Regulation of Thyroid Hormones
Upon reaching the thyroid gland, TSH stimulates the follicular cells' active uptake of iodide ions from the blood. The ions diffuse to the apical surface of the cells and are oxidized to iodine. The iodine is then...
Functions of Thyroid Hormones
TH is indispensable for the normal development and maturation of the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems during fetal and childhood growth. It facilitates bone mineral turnover and regulates protein synthesis in developing tissues, contributing significantly to overall growth and...
Major Hormones and Their Functions
Oxytocin, produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland, plays a role in social bonding, childbirth, and lactation.
Graves Disease II: Pathophysiology
Goiter


