Growth hormone-releasing factor enhances sleep in rats and rabbits

Previously, it was suggested that a hypothalamic mechanism links somatotropin [growth hormone (GH)] secretion to sleep regulation, and this may explain the temporal correlation between GH release and nonrapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) on sleep onset. The purpose of these experiments was to study whether growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF), a hypothalamic peptide responsible for stimulation of GH secretion, also has the capacity to promote sleep in rats and rabbits. Artificial cerebrospinal fluid or GRF (human GRF-[1-40], 0.01, 0.1, and 1 nmol/kg) was intracerebroventricularly injected to rats at dark onset, and the electroencephalogram (EEG), brain temperature (Tbr), and motor activity were recorded for 24 h. Rabbits received the same doses of GRF during the light period, and sleep-wake activity was monitored for 6 h. GRF promoted NREMS and rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) and increased EEG slow-wave activity in both rats and rabbits. NREMS increased in postinjection hour 1 after low doses of GRF, whereas the effect was more prolonged after higher doses. REMS increased in response to the low and middle doses of GRF in postinjection hour 1 in rats and in hour 2 after each dose in rabbits. The diurnal rhythms of sleep-wake activity, motor activity, and Tbr were not affected in rats. Because GRF promotes sleep and also stimulates GH secretion, it is a likely candidate for linking GH secretion and sleep regulation.