
Prolactin is a hormone that has been found to play a role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. Research has shown that prolactin increases in young and elderly subjects after sleep deprivation. In rats, rabbits and cats, prolactin has been found to promote REM sleep. In this article, we will explore the effects of prolactin on the sleep-wake cycle and discuss the potential implications for human sleep regulation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prolactin increases in | Young and elderly subjects after sleep deprivation |
| Prolactin promotes | REMS in cats, rabbits and rats |
| REMS and NREMS increase in | Adult rats bearing juvenile rat anterior grafts under the capsule of the kidney |
| Prolactin decreases | Paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the dark period |
| Prolactin increases | Paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the light period |
| Prolactin infusion in the dorsal raphe nucleus | Increases the time and length of REM sleep episodes 3 hours after the infusion until the end of the light phase of the day cycle |
| Sleep is regulated by | Circadian and homeostatic processes |
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What You'll Learn
- Prolactin increases in young and elderly subjects after sleep deprivation
- Prolactin promotes REM sleep in cats, rabbits and rats
- Prolactin decreases paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the dark period
- Prolactin increases paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the light period
- Prolactin is a major mediator of stress-induced REM sleep

Prolactin increases in young and elderly subjects after sleep deprivation
Prolactin is a hormone that plays a role in sleep regulation. It has been found to increase the time and length of REM sleep episodes. This was observed in a study where prolactin infusion in the dorsal raphe nucleus increased the time and length of REM sleep episodes 3 hours after the infusion until the end of the light phase of the day cycle.
The effects of prolactin on the sleep-wake cycle have also been studied in rats. In one study, ovine prolactin was injected subcutaneously or intra-cerebro-ventricularly into rats. The results indicated that ovine prolactin decreased paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the dark period and increased it when injected during the light period. There was no effect on slow-wave sleep duration regardless of injection time or site.
The exact mechanisms through which sleep affects circulating hormonal levels are not yet fully understood. However, it is known that the circadian timing system influences the secretion of hormones. The suprachiasmatic nucleus exerts its influence on hormones via neuronal and humoral signals. It has also been discovered that peripheral tissues contain circadian clock proteins that are involved in hormone regulation.
In summary, prolactin is a hormone that plays a role in sleep regulation, and its levels can increase after sleep deprivation. Prolactin has been found to increase the time and length of REM sleep episodes, and its effects on the sleep-wake cycle have been studied in rats. While the exact mechanisms of how sleep affects hormonal levels are not fully understood, it is known that the circadian timing system and certain proteins influence the secretion of hormones.
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Prolactin promotes REM sleep in cats, rabbits and rats
Prolactin has been shown to promote REM sleep in cats, rabbits and rats. In one study, prolactin was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 10 μg/animal or intra-cerebro-ventricularly at doses of 100, 10 and 1 ng/animal. The results indicated that prolactin decreased paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the dark period and increased it when injected during the light period. This suggests that prolactin may play a role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle, particularly in promoting REM sleep.
Another study found that prolactin infusion in the dorsal raphe nucleus increased the time and length of REM sleep episodes 3 hours after the infusion until the end of the light phase of the day cycle. This suggests that brain prolactin is a major mediator of stress-induced REM sleep.
The exact mechanisms through which sleep affects circulating hormonal levels are poorly understood. However, it is known that the circadian timing system influences the secretion of hormones. The suprachiasmatic nucleus exerts its influence on hormones via neuronal and humoral signals. It is also apparent that peripheral tissues contain circadian clock proteins that are involved in hormone regulation.
In summary, prolactin appears to promote REM sleep in cats, rabbits and rats, and may play a role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms through which sleep affects hormonal levels.
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Prolactin decreases paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the dark period
Prolactin is a hormone that has been shown to play a role in sleep regulation. A study on rats found that prolactin injections decreased paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the dark period and increased it when injected during the light period. The effects on sleep duration were similar regardless of whether the injection was given subcutaneously or intra-cerebro-ventricularly. This suggests that prolactin may have a direct effect on the brain, influencing sleep duration.
Prolactin has also been found to increase in both young and elderly subjects after a night of sleep deprivation. In addition, systemic and intrahypothalamic prolactin has been shown to promote REM sleep in cats, rabbits, and rats. This indicates that prolactin may play a role in regulating sleep duration and quality, particularly in response to sleep deprivation or stress.
The mechanism by which prolactin influences sleep is not yet fully understood. However, it is known that the circadian timing system influences the secretion of hormones, including prolactin. The suprachiasmatic nucleus exerts influence on hormone secretion via neuronal and humoral signals. Additionally, peripheral tissues contain circadian clock proteins that are involved in hormone regulation. This suggests that the interaction between the circadian timing system and hormonal systems may play a key role in sleep regulation.
Furthermore, other hormones and neuropeptides have also been implicated in sleep regulation. For example, cortisol and estrogen have been found to promote REM sleep, while CRH and somatostatin impair sleep. Ghrelin, galanin, and neuropeptide Y, on the other hand, promote sleep. The complex interplay between these various hormones and neuropeptides likely contributes to the regulation of sleep duration and quality.
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Prolactin increases paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the light period
Prolactin is a hormone that has been shown to play a role in sleep regulation. A study on rats found that prolactin increases during the recovery night after sleep deprivation in both young and elderly subjects.
Another study found that prolactin increases paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the light period. This study used ovine prolactin, which was injected subcutaneously at a dose of 10 μg/animal or intra-cerebro-ventricularly at doses of 100, 10, and 1 ng/animal. The results indicated that oPRL decreased paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the dark period but increased it during the light period. There was no effect on slow-wave sleep duration, regardless of injection time or site.
Prolactin infusion in the dorsal raphe nucleus has also been found to increase the time and length of REM sleep episodes 3 hours after the infusion until the end of the light phase of the day cycle. This suggests that brain prolactin is a major mediator of stress-induced REM sleep.
While the exact mechanisms through which sleep affects circulating hormonal levels are not yet fully understood, it is known that the circadian timing system influences the secretion of hormones. The suprachiasmatic nucleus exerts its influence on hormones via neuronal and humoral signals, and peripheral tissues also contain circadian clock proteins that are involved in hormone regulation.
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Prolactin is a major mediator of stress-induced REM sleep
REM sleep is regulated by circadian and homeostatic processes. The latter depends on the amount and quality of the preceding waking period. The suprachiasmatic nucleus exerts its influence on hormones via neuronal and humoral signals. It is now also apparent that peripheral tissues contain circadian clock proteins, similar to those in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, that are also involved in hormone regulation.
The exact mechanisms through which sleep affects circulating hormonal levels are poorly understood. However, it is known that certain hormones play a specific role in sleep regulation. A reciprocal interaction of the neuropeptides growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone (GHRH) and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) plays a key role in sleep regulation. Somatostatin impairs sleep, whereas ghrelin, galanin and neuropeptide Y promote sleep.
A study on the effect of prolactin on the sleep-wake cycle in rats found that prolactin increases during the recovery night after sleep deprivation in young and elderly subjects. Results indicate that ovine prolactin decreases paradoxical sleep duration when injected during the dark period and increases it when injected during the light period.
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Frequently asked questions
Prolactin has been shown to increase REM sleep in cats, rabbits, and rats. In adult rats, prolactin increases both REM and non-REM sleep. In humans, prolactin increases during the recovery night after sleep deprivation.
Prolactin is a major mediator of stress-induced REM sleep. Prolactin infusion in the dorsal raphe nucleus increases the time and length of REM sleep episodes.
The circadian timing system influences the secretion of hormones, including prolactin. Peripheral tissues contain circadian clock proteins that are involved in hormone regulation. However, shift workers and others who work outside of the typical 9-5 schedule may experience circadian misalignment, which can disrupt the sleep/wake cycle and hormonal regulation.











































