Ghrelin-induced sleep responses in ad libitum fed and food-restricted rats

Ghrelin administration at light onset suppressed non-rapid-eye-movement sleep (NREMS) and rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) for 2 hours.

• Ghrelin increased behavioral activity, including feeding, exploring, and grooming, in the first hour after administration.
• Food and water intake were stimulated by ghrelin injection during the light period.
• At dark onset, ghrelin also suppressed NREMS and REMS, though the effect was less pronounced than during the light period.
• A secondary increase in NREMS was observed in hours 3-12 after some doses of ghrelin.
• In feeding-restricted rats, ghrelin suppressed NREMS in hours 1 and 2 and REMS in hours 3-12.
• These findings suggest that ghrelin may be involved in regulating the interplay between feeding, metabolism, and sleep.

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