Sleep and hormones

Administration of the protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin, has distinct sleep-promoting effects in lateral preoptic and perifornical hypothalamic sites in rats

Although a robust relationship between sleep and increased brain protein synthesis is well-documented, there have been few reports of the effects of local application of a protein synthesis inhibitor (PSI) on sleep. In this study, we compared the effects of local microdialytic administration of the protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin (ANI) into the lateral preoptic area (LPOA), a sleep promoting area vs. the perifornical/lateral hypothalamus (PF/LH), a wake and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep-promoting area. ANI administered to the LPOA at night resulted in an increase in stage 2 of rat non-REM sleep, whereas ANI delivered into the PF/LH during the daytime increased REM sleep. ANI microdialysis into hippocampus did not affect sleep or waking. These differential effects of local protein synthesis inhibition on sleep support a hypothesis that mechanisms controlling protein synthesis are critically involved in the regulation of both NREM sleep and REM sleep.

The relevance of sleep, circadian rhythm and lifestyle as related to a holistic theory of health

This paper highlights the relation between health, lifestyle, sleep and circadian rhythm in disease, using a holistic theory of health, for subjects with, for example, coronary heart disease, nursed in intensive care or post-operative ward following coronary arterial by-pass surgery. The paper will also illuminate the World Health Organization's health targets nine and 13-17, adopted by the Member States of the European Region, about the relevance of lifestyle and its influence on the subject's health values for patients with coronary heart disease. Sleep is affected by a person's own will, repertoire and circumstance, both internal and external. It plays a meaningful part in maintaining good health. Disturbance of sleep leads to change in circadian rhythm and is an early symptom of psychophysiological and social ill health, independent of disease. It influences a person's values, actions and ability to adjust. Disturbance of sleep over longer periods leads to disease. Patients who have undergone, for example, coronary arterial by-pass surgery are expected to change their lifestyle. It is therefore important that the nurse can define the subject's sleep patterns and circadian rhythm.