The somatotropic axis in sleep and thermoregulation: A tribute to Ferenc Obál, Jr. (1948-2004)

Hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) is one of the key neurohumoral regulators of non-rapid eye movement sleep. The focus of the present paper is the role of GHRH in the regulation of sleep and body temperature in the context of a larger biochemical regulatory network. This network includes other members of the somatotopic axis such as growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1, somatostatin and ghrelin and members of the cytokine family such as interleukin-1.