Total sleep deprivation and weight increases of the reproductive organs in male rats.

Abstract

Long-term total sleep deprivation was applied to male rats using a special cage, in which the rats were continuously forced to move in order to avoid an electric shock through the floor. In comparison with untreated control, three groups of 24-, 48-and 72-hr sleep-deprived rats showed marked weight increases in the adrenals (30.8-47.7%), testes (6.2-15.0%), ventral prostates (59.7-90.7%) and seminal vesicles (34.2-40.1%). It is supposed that either the sleep deprivation per se or stressful conditions accompanied with the treatment caused a hypersecretion of hypophyseal and testicular hormones.