Abstract
Plasma concentrations of pituitary hormones during sleep were measured in 6 patients with diencephalic tumor to study the control of the central nervous system over the physiologic secretion of pituitary hormones.
Only one case of pinealoma not involving the hypothalamus showed Growth Hormone (GH) peak of 10.5 ng/ml during the first slow-wave sleep. One case out one case out of six showed hypersecretion of Prolactin (PRL) during sleep, characterized by high basal values and excessive sleep-related augmentation. Normal secretion of Gonadotropin (Gn) during sleep was observed in 2 cases, secretory insufficiency in 3 cases, and hypersecretion in 1 ase.
The patients with hypothalamic lesions showed abnormal sleep-related secretion of pituitary hormones, particularly of GH. The sleep-related augmentation of GH was absent in patients with disturbance of consciousness.
The relationship between the central nervous system and the endocrine system was discussed.
