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Effects of progesterone on sleep: a possible pharmacological treatment for sleep-breathing disorders?
M L Andersen1, L R A Bittencourt, I B Antunes
1Department of Psychobiology - Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP/EPM), R. Napoleão de Barros, 925, V. Clementino 04024-002, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. mandersen@psicobio.epm.br
Abstract:
Progesterone is present in a wide spectrum of biological activity within a variety of tissues. This hormone is also known to affect reproduction, sleep quality, respiration, mood, appetite, learning, memory and sexual activity. Progesterone exerts a sleep induction or hypnotic effect and is a potent respiratory stimulant that has been associated to a decrease in the number of central and obstructive sleep apnea episodes in men. The literature also contains a substantial amount of data on the effect of apnea in women with obesity-hypoventilation during menopause. This review attempts to outline the specific role of progesterone in normal sleep and breathing as well as its possible therapeutic effects in the treatment of sleep-disordered breathing.
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