Role of Adenosine Analogs and Growth Hormone in Waking and Sleep.

The role of adenosine in sleep has been further investigated using electroencephalography to document the dose response effects of newly developed specific adenosine A1 and A2 receptor stimulants and 8-cyclopropyltheophylline CPRT, a substituted xanthine. The results with adenosine agonist suggest that both A1 and A2 receptors play a role in the hypnotic action of adenosine. The data with CPRT point out that stimulant effects of xanthines is obtained by the blockade of A1 receptors. Densensitization of adenosine A2 receptors was found following the chronic treatment of adenosine agonists L-PIA, NECA ad deoxycoformycim. Chronic administration of caffeine up-regulates A1 receptors in cerebral cortex in a manner similar to that following deprivation of REM sleep. This suggests the existence of an endocaffeine whose normal role is to block adenosine receptors during prolonged sleep deprivation- a mechanism that could be responsible for the increased number of adenosine receptors. Keywords Hypnosis Physiological effects Sleep deprivation.