title: Prolonged oral treatment with MK-677, a novel growth hormone secretagogue, improves sleep quality in man.
abstract: Previous studies have indicated the existence of common mechanisms regulating sleep and somatotropic activity. In the present study, we investigated the effects of prolonged treatment with a novel, orally active, growth hormone secretagogue (MK-677) on sleep quality in healthy young and older adults. Eight young subjects (18-30 years) followed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-period crossover design. Each subject participated in three 7-day treatment periods (with bedtime drug administration), presented in random (Latin square) order, and separated by at least 14 days. Doses were 5 and 25 mg MK-677 and matching placebo. Six older subjects, ages 65-71 years, each participated in two 14-day treatment periods (with bedtime drug administration) separated by a 14-day washout. Doses were 2 and 25 mg MK-677 during the first and second periods, respectively. Baseline sleep and hormonal data were obtained on the 2 days preceding the beginning of the first 14-day treatment period. In young subjects, high-dose MK-677 treatment resulted in an approximately 50% increase in the duration of stage IV and in a more than 20% increase in REM sleep as compared to placebo (p < 0.05). The frequency of deviations from normal sleep decreased from 42% under placebo to 8% under high-dose MK-677 (p < 0.03). In older adults, treatment with MK-677 was associated with a nearly 50% increase in REM sleep (p < 0.05) and a decrease in REM latency (p < 0.02). The frequency of deviations from normal sleep also decreased (p < 0.02). The present findings suggest that MK-677 may simultaneously improve sleep quality and correct the relative hyposomatotropism of senescence.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Biological Rhythms (CERB) and Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Copinschi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leproult
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Onderbergen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caufriez
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schilling
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mendel
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Lepeleire
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bolognese
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Cauter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D010919:Placebos; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; C094817:ibutamoren mesylate