Sleep and circadian rhythmicity both influence the 24-h profiles of the main pituitary and adrenal hormones. From studies using experimental strategies including complete and partial sleep deprivation, acute and chronic shifts in the sleep period, or complete sleep-wake reversal as occurs with transmeridian travel or shift-work, it appears that prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) profiles are mainly sleep related, while cortisol profile is mainly controlled by the circadian clock with a weak influence of sleep processes. Thyrotropin (TSH) profile is under the dual influence of sleep and circadian rhythmicity. Recent studies, in which we used spectral analysis of sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) rather than visual scoring of sleep stages, have evaluated the temporal associations between pulsatile hormonal release and the variations in sleep EEG activity. Pulses in PRL and in GH are positively linked to increases in delta wave activity, whereas TSH and cortisol pulses are related to decreases in delta wave activity. It is yet not clear whether sleep influences endocrine secretion, or conversely, whether hormone secretion affects sleep structure. These well-defined relationships raise the question of their physiological significance and of their clinical implications.

中文翻译：

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垂体和肾上腺激素的超律性节律：它们与睡眠的关系。

睡眠和昼夜节律都影响主要垂体和肾上腺激素的24小时分布。通过使用包括完全和部分睡眠剥夺，睡眠期间的急性和慢性转变，或经络旅行或轮班工作中发生的完全觉醒逆转在内的实验策略进行的研究，发现催乳素（PRL）和生长激素（GH）轮廓主要与睡眠有关，而皮质醇轮廓主要受昼夜节律控制，对睡眠过程的影响较小。促甲状腺素（TSH）分布受睡眠和昼夜节律的双重影响。最近的研究，其中我们使用了睡眠脑电图（EEG）的频谱分析，而不是睡眠阶段的视觉评分，已经评估了搏动性激素释放与睡眠脑电活动变化之间的时间关联。PRL和GH中的脉冲与增量波活动呈正相关，而TSH和皮质醇脉冲与增量波活动减少相关。尚不清楚睡眠是否影响内分泌分泌，或者相反，激素分泌是否影响睡眠结构。这些明确的关系提出了其生理意义和临床意义的问题。