Shadab A Rahman1,2, Leilah K Grant1,2, Joshua J Gooley1,2, Shantha M W Rajaratnam1,2,3, Charles A Czeisler1,2, Steven W Lockley1,2,3. 1. Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. 2. Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. 3. Monash Institute of Cognitive and Clinical Neurosciences, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Studies suggest that female reproductive hormones are under circadian regulation, although methodological differences have led to inconsistent findings. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether circulating levels of reproductive hormones exhibit circadian rhythms. DESIGN: Blood samples were collected across ∼90 consecutive hours, including 2 baseline days under a standard sleep-wake schedule and ∼50 hours of extended wake under constant routine (CR) conditions. SETTING: Intensive Physiological Monitoring Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen healthy premenopausal women (22.8 ± 2.6 years; nine follicular; eight luteal). INTERVENTIONS: Fifty-hour CR. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), LH, FSH, SHBG, melatonin, and core body temperature. RESULTS: All hormones exhibited significant 24-hour rhythms under both standard sleep-wake and CR conditions during the follicular phase (P < 0.05). In contrast, only FSH and SHBG were significantly rhythmic during the luteal phase. Rhythm acrophases and amplitudes were similar between standard sleep-wake and CR conditions. The acrophase occurred in the morning for P4; in the afternoon for FSH, LH, and SHBG; and during the night for E2. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm previous reports of ∼24-hour rhythms in many female reproductive hormones in humans under ambulatory conditions but demonstrate that these hormones are under endogenous circadian regulation, defined as persisting in the absence of external time cues. These results may have important implications for the effects of circadian disruption on reproductive function.
CONTEXT: Studies suggest that female reproductive hormones are under circadian regulation, although methodological differences have led to inconsistent findings. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether circulating levels of reproductive hormones exhibit circadian rhythms. DESIGN: Blood samples were collected across ∼90 consecutive hours, including 2 baseline days under a standard sleep-wake schedule and ∼50 hours of extended wake under constant routine (CR) conditions. SETTING: Intensive Physiological Monitoring Unit, Brigham and Women's Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen healthy premenopausal women (22.8 ± 2.6 years; nine follicular; eight luteal). INTERVENTIONS: Fifty-hour CR. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Plasma estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), LH, FSH, SHBG, melatonin, and core body temperature. RESULTS: All hormones exhibited significant 24-hour rhythms under both standard sleep-wake and CR conditions during the follicular phase (P < 0.05). In contrast, only FSH and SHBG were significantly rhythmic during the luteal phase. Rhythm acrophases and amplitudes were similar between standard sleep-wake and CR conditions. The acrophase occurred in the morning for P4; in the afternoon for FSH, LH, and SHBG; and during the night for E2. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm previous reports of ∼24-hour rhythms in many female reproductive hormones in humans under ambulatory conditions but demonstrate that these hormones are under endogenous circadian regulation, defined as persisting in the absence of external time cues. These results may have important implications for the effects of circadian disruption on reproductive function.
Authors: Kara M Klingman; Erica E Marsh; Elizabeth B Klerman; Ellen J Anderson; Janet E Hall Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2011-02-23 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Shadab A Rahman; Leilah K Grant; Joshua J Gooley; Shantha M W Rajaratnam; Charles A Czeisler; Steven W Lockley Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2019-12-01 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Leilah K Grant; Suzanne Ftouni; Brunda Nijagal; David P De Souza; Dedreia Tull; Malcolm J McConville; Shantha M W Rajaratnam; Steven W Lockley; Clare Anderson Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2019-03-14 Impact factor: 4.379
Authors: Shadab A Rahman; Leilah K Grant; Joshua J Gooley; Shantha M W Rajaratnam; Charles A Czeisler; Steven W Lockley Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2019-12-01 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Francesca Sciarra; Edoardo Franceschini; Federica Campolo; Daniele Gianfrilli; Francesco Pallotti; Donatella Paoli; Andrea M Isidori; Mary Anna Venneri Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2020-05-30 Impact factor: 5.923