Nippon Rinsho. 2000 Aug.
Endocrine disturbances in sleep apnea syndrome. [Article in Japanese]
Narui K.
Toranomon Hospital, Division of Respiratory Diseases.
[ PubMed ]

Abstract: Sleep apnea may interact endocrine rhythms by a number of mechanisms. Repetitive apneas will cause sleep fragmentation and disorganization of sleep stages and cycles. How this compares with hormonal changes secondary to sleep deprivation is unclear. Hypoxia may have direct central effects on neurotransmitters, which in turn will affect hypothalamic-pituitary hormone production. And, sudden arousal from sleep may produce a central stress response leading to hormonal changes. These factors may interact and lead to changes in the central of sleep and endocrine rhythms. We describe growth hormone and androgens secretion during sleep with obstructive sleep apnea patients.