%0 Journal Article %A A. Tarasiuk %A N. Berdugo-Boura %A A. Troib %A Y. Segev %T Role of GHRH in Sleep and Growth Impairments Induced by Upper Airway Obstruction in Rats %D 2011 %R 10.1183/09031936.00197610 %J European Respiratory Journal %P erj01976-2010 %X Upper airway obstruction (UAO) can lead to abnormal growth hormone homeostasis and growth retardation by unclear mechanisms. We explored the effect of UAO on hypothalamic growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), which has a role in both sleep and growth hormone regulation.The tracheae of 22-day-old rats were narrowed; UAO and sham-operated animals were sacrificed 16 days post-surgery. To stimulate slow wave sleep and growth hormone secretion, rats were treated with ritanserin (5-HT2 receptor antagonist). Sleep was measured with telemetric system. Hypothalamic GHRH, hypothalamic GHRH and growth hormone receptors, and orexin were analysed using ELISA, real-time PCR, and Western immunoblot.UAO decreased hypothalamic GHRH, GHRH and growth hormone receptors levels, while orexin mRNA increased (p<0.01). In UAO rats the duration of wakefulness was elevated and the duration of slow wave sleep (SWS), paradoxical sleep, and slow wave activity were reduced (p<0.001). Ritanserin alleviated these effects, i.e., normalized hypothalamic GHRH content, decreased wake duration, increased duration and depth of SWS, and attenuated growth impairment (p<0.001).Here we present evidence that growth retardation in UAO is associated with a reduction in hypothalamic GHRH content. Our findings show that the abnormalities in GHRH/growth hormone axis underlie both growth retardation and SWS disorder UAO. %U https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/erj/early/2011/03/10/09031936.00197610.full.pdf