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Acute Sleep Disruption Does Not Diminish Pulsatile Growth Hormone Secretion in Pubertal Children

Madison E Calvert1, Samantha A Molsberry2, Tairmae Kangarloo3

  • 1National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Clinical Research Branch, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA.

Journal of the Endocrine Society
|June 7, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Disrupting slow-wave sleep (SWS) in pubertal children did not affect growth hormone (GH) secretion. This suggests SWS may not directly stimulate GH release in this age group.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Neuroendocrinology

Background:

  • Growth hormone (GH) secretion in children is linked to sleep onset and slow-wave sleep (SWS).
  • The impact of sleep disruption on GH secretion in children remains unquantified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of acute sleep disruption on GH secretion in pubertal children.
  • To determine if SWS disruption influences GH pulse dynamics and basal secretion.

Main Methods:

  • Fourteen healthy pubertal children underwent two overnight polysomnographic studies.
  • One study involved SWS disruption using auditory stimuli; the other served as a control.
  • Frequent blood sampling measured GH levels throughout sleep stages and wakefulness.

Main Results:

  • Auditory stimuli reduced SWS by 40.0 ± 7.8%.
  • GH pulse rates during N2 sleep were lower during SWS disruption, but overall GH secretion, pulse amplitude, frequency, and basal levels were unaffected.
  • No significant differences in GH secretion were observed between disrupted and undisrupted sleep nights across sleep stages.

Conclusions:

  • GH pulses in pubertal children are temporally associated with SWS.
  • Acute SWS disruption via auditory stimuli did not alter overall GH secretion.
  • These findings suggest SWS may not be a direct stimulus for GH secretion in pubertal children.
Abstract

Keywords:
childrengrowth hormonepubertysleepslow-wave sleep

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