Temporal relationships between pulsatile cortisol secretion and electroencephalographic activity during sleep in man.
A temporal link between slow wave sleep and low or decreasing cortisol release has been previously demonstrated. This relationship was re-evaluated in 15 healthy male subjects using spectral analysis of their sleep electroencephalogram (EEG). EEG activity in the delta, theta, alpha and beta bands was cross-correlated with cortisol secretory rates at 10-min intervals. For the period of pulsatile cortisol secretion, an inverse relationship was found with the delta band with an average cross-correlation coefficient of -0.505 (P < 0.0001). Variations in cortisol secretory rates coincided with or anticipated opposite variations in delta wave activity by 10 or 20 min. A significant positive correlation was found with theta activity, but alpha and beta bands did not elicit any systematic association with cortisol profiles. These results demonstrate a temporal association between cortisol secretory pulses and delta wave activity in man, suggesting the existence of a central control common to both variables.
Gronfier
C
C
Laboratoire de Physiologie et de Psychologie Environnementales, CNRS, Strasbourg, France. clande.gronfier@c-strasbourg.fr
Luthringer
R
R
Follenius
M
M
Schaltenbrand
N
N
Macher
J P
JP
Muzet
A
A
Brandenberger
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D006854:Hydrocortisone