AJP - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, Vol 272, Issue 4 1189-R1196, Copyright © 1997 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Melatonin and S-20098 increase REM sleep and wake-up propensity without modifying NREM sleep homeostasis

C. Cajochen, K. Krauchi, D. Mori, P. Graw and A. Wirz-Justice
Psychiatric University Clinic, Basel, Switzerland.

The pineal hormone melatonin has been implicated in the circadian regulation of sleep. In a crossover design, we investigated the effect of acute administration of 5 mg melatonin and a melatonin agonist (S-20098, 5 and 100 mg) in healthy young men when given 5 h before bedtime on sleep structure and electroencephalogram (EEG) power density. Each trial comprised a baseline, a treatment, and a posttreatment sleep episode. Relative to the placebo condition, all treatments phase advanced the core body temperature rhythm [Krauchi, K., C. Cajochen, D. Mori, C. Hetsch, and A. Wirz-Justice. Sleep Res. 24: 526, 1995; and Krauchi, K., C. Cajochen, D. Mori, and A. Wirz-Justice. Am. J. Physiol. 272 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 41): R1178-1188, 1997]. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was increased after both melatonin and S-20098. This increase in REM sleep was most pronounced in the first REM sleep episode. On the posttreatment night after melatonin and S-20098 administration, more wakefulness was present in the latter one-half of the sleep episode. EEG power density between 0.25 and 20 Hz during either non-REM (NREM) or REM sleep did not differ from placebo. Thus a single early evening dose of melatonin or the agonist S-20098 increases REM sleep propensity and advances sleep termination while, at the same time, the EEG in NREM sleep remains unaffected.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Goel An arousing, musically enhanced bird song stimulus mediates circadian rhythm phase advances in dim light Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2006; 291(3): R822 - R827. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Munch, S. Kobialka, R. Steiner, P. Oelhafen, A. Wirz-Justice, and C. Cajochen Wavelength-dependent effects of evening light exposure on sleep architecture and sleep EEG power density in men Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 2006; 290(5): R1421 - R1428. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Goel Late-night presentation of an auditory stimulus phase delays human circadian rhythms Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2005; 289(1): R209 - R216. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Beaumont, D. Batejat, C. Pierard, P. Van Beers, J. B. Denis, O. Coste, P. Doireau, F. Chauffard, J. French, and D. Lagarde Caffeine or melatonin effects on sleep and sleepiness after rapid eastward transmeridian travel J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2004; 96(1): 50 - 58. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. S. Gilbert, H. J. Burgess, D. J. Kennaway, and D. Dawson Attenuation of sleep propensity, core hypothermia, and peripheral heat loss after temazepam tolerance Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, December 1, 2000; 279(6): R1980 - R1987. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Cajochen, S. B. S. Khalsa, J. K. Wyatt, C. A. Czeisler, and D.-J. Dijk EEG and ocular correlates of circadian melatonin phase and human performance decrements during sleep loss Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 1999; 277(3): R640 - R649. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. J. van den Heuvel, D. J. Kennaway, and D. Dawson Thermoregulatory and soporific effects of very low dose melatonin injection Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 1999; 276(2): E249 - E254. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]