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Updated: Jul 29, 2026
Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling
Published on: October 11, 2018
Sleep deprivation elevates plasma corticosterone levels in neonatal rats
I S Hairston1, N F Ruby, S Brooke
1Neurosciences Program, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5020, USA. Ilana.Hairston.edu
Insights
Young rats show increased stress hormone levels after sleep deprivation, with younger ones being more sensitive. Sleep loss is a significant stressor even in early development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Endocrinology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Sleep deprivation is a known stressor.
- The developing brain's response to stress is not fully understood.
- Corticosterone (CORT) is a key stress hormone.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the age-dependent effects of short sleep deprivation on plasma corticosterone levels in developing rats.
- To determine if sleep loss acts as a stressor in young rats and how sensitivity changes with age.
Main Methods:
- Plasma CORT levels were measured in rats at postnatal days 12, 16, 20, and 24.
- Animals were subjected to short periods of sleep deprivation.
- CORT levels were compared between sleep-deprived and control groups at each age.
Main Results:
- Basal CORT levels increased with age.
- Sleep deprivation significantly elevated CORT in all age groups.
- The magnitude of the CORT response to sleep deprivation decreased with age.
- Sleep-deprived P12 rats showed lower CORT levels but still a significant stress response.
Conclusions:
- Sleep deprivation is a significant stressor for developing rats, even at postnatal day 12.
- Younger rats (P12) appear more sensitive to the effects of mild sleep deprivation than older rats (P16-P24).
- The study highlights age-dependent changes in the stress response to sleep loss during early development.
Abstract:
Plasma corticosterone (CORT) levels were measured after short periods of sleep deprivation in rats at postnatal days 12, 16, 20, and 24. There was an age-dependent increase in basal CORT levels and sleep deprivation significantly elevated CORT at all ages compared to non-sleep deprived controls. The levels of CORT after sleep deprivation in P16, P20 and P24 animals were similar, resulting in an age-dependent decrease of the magnitude of the response. Sleep deprived P12 animals had lower levels of CORT. However, the observed response to sleep deprivation suggests that sleep loss is a significant stressor at this age. These observations suggest that younger animals are more sensitive to the effects of mild sleep deprivation than older ones.
