Mid-morning tryptophan depletion delays REM sleep onset in healthy subjects.
Because serotonin is involved in the diachronic regulation of sleep, we tested the effect of a midmorning rapid deficiency in the serotonin precursor tryptophan on the next night's sleep. After a 48-h low-protein diet, 17 healthy volunteers received either a tryptophan-free mixture of amino acids or a placebo at 10:30 A.M., in a randomized double-blind cross-over design, resulting in a 77% decrease and 41% decrease of serum tryptophan at 3:30 P.M. and 9:30 P.M., respectively. Urinary sulfatoxy-melatonin excretion and mood were unaffected by the rapid tryptophan depletion (RTD), but rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency increased by 21 min (from 91.5 +/- 4.5 min to 112.2 +/- 6.9 min), sleep fragmentation 58%, and REM density of the first REM sleep period doubled. The results show that midmorning RTD delays REM sleep latency during following night-time sleep, whereas evening RTD shortens REM sleep latency in previous studies, and suggest that the serotonin control of REM sleep latency is upregulated.
Arnulf
Isabelle
I
AP-HP, Centre d'Investigation Clinique, Fédération des Pathologies du Sommeil et UPRES EA 2397, Paris, France. isabelle.arnulf@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
Quintin
Philippe
P
Alvarez
Jean Claude
JC
Vigil
Laurence
L
Touitou
Yvan
Y
Lèbre
Anne Sophie
AS
Bellenger
Agnès
A
Varoquaux
Odile
O
Derenne
Jean Philippe
JP
Allilaire
Jean François
JF
Benkelfat
Chawki
C
Leboyer
Marion
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency*
D014364:Tryptophan