Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

High-Throughput Small Molecule Drug Screening For Age-Related Sleep Disorders Using Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: October 20, 2023
Tryptophan-Serotonin-Melatonin Pathway as a Contributor to Changes in Mood and Cognitive Functions Induced by Sleep
Marcin Sochal1, Aleksandra Wojtera1, Marta Ditmer1
1Department of Sleep Medicine and Metabolic Disorders, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland.
Abstract:
Sleep deprivation (DS) is a reduction in sleep duration due to voluntary or external factors. The mechanisms underlying the psychological and cognitive consequences of DS are complex and incompletely understood; one proposed pathway involves alterations in the serotonin (5-HT) and melatonin (MLT) systems. This study aimed to assess the effects of a single night of DS on the tryptophan (TP)-5-HT-MLT system and to examine their associations with mood and cognitive performance. Eighty healthy adults underwent polysomnography (PSG) and actigraphy-monitored DS. Blood samples, mood assessments, and cognitive tests (BEHCT, TMT, Stroop) were performed before and after PSG and DS. Levels of serotonin transporter (SERT) mRNA, TP, 5-HT, and MLT were measured. Participants were classified as Responders (RE) or Non-Responders (NR) based on post-DS mood change. DS significantly decreased TP and MLT overall. In NR, 5-HT increased and MLT decreased, unlike in RE. ΔBEHCT correlated positively with ΔTP (RE), Δ5-HT (overall), and ΔMLT (overall and RE), and negatively with ΔSERT mRNA (NR). In RE, ΔSERT mRNA negatively correlated with ΔStroop performance and positively with ΔTMT. Acute DS disrupts the TP-5-HT-MLT axis, with effects differing by mood response. These changes may influence cognitive outcomes after sleep loss.
More Related Videos
04:33Association Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Symptoms in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Published on: April 26, 2024
07:04A High-performance Liquid Chromatography Measurement of Kynurenine and Kynurenic Acid: Relating Biochemistry to Cognition and Sleep in Rats
Published on: August 19, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Management of Insomnia
Understanding Sleep
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
The Pineal Gland
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...