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Effects of sleep deprivation on serum testosterone concentrations in the rat.

Authors :: Wu JL
Wu RS
Yang JG
Huang CC
Chen KB
Fang KH
Tsai HD
Source :: Neuroscience letters [Neurosci Lett] 2011 Apr 25; Vol. 494 (2), pp. 124-9. Date of Electronic Publication: 2011 Mar 03.
Publication Year :: 2011
Abstract: Sleep deprivation (SD) leads to decreases in circulating levels of testosterone with unknown mechanisms. We tested the hypothesis that decreased testosterone levels associated with SD may be caused by serotonin-mediated inhibition of its production. Male rats were subjected to SD for 24 or 48 h using the dish-over-water-method with a Rechtschaffen apparatus. Serum testosterone, corticosterone and serotonin (5-HT) concentrations were assessed thereafter, as were testicular StAR and 5-HT 2 receptor levels. SD, regardless of duration led to significant decreases in serum testosterone levels and testicular steroid acute regulatory protein (StAR) protein expression, while 5-HT levels were significantly elevated (all P<0.05). Corticosterone concentrations were significantly increased in 48 h SD rats (P<0.05). In primary Leydig cell cultures, 5-HT decreased chorionic gonadotropin-induced testosterone secretion and StAR expression, which appeared to be dependent on 5-HT 2 receptor activation but independent of cyclic AMP signaling. These findings suggest that decreased serum testosterone levels in SD rats may be the result of 5-HT-related inhibition of testosterone production and decreased testicular expression of StAR protein.<br /> (Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)