Altered growth of hormone secretory pattern following prolonged sleep deprivation in the rhesus monkey.

Plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH) were determined in samples obtained sequentially at 15-min intervals during the last 4 h in monkeys deprived of sleep for 76 h and the first 8 h of ensuing recovery sleep. Electroencephalographic (EEG), electro-oculographic (EOG), and electromyographic (EMG) activities were recorded. Stages 3-4 sleep occurred rapidly after sleep onset and were of long duration. Plasma GH secretion was markedly elevated during sleep recovery, without apparent relationship to stage of sleep.