Effects of chronic growth hormone and melatonin administration on EEG delta power in old rats

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology Student: Petr Hlubuček Supervisor: Doc. PharmDr. Petr Pávek, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Effects of chronic growth hormone and melatonin administration on EEG delta power in old rats. Slow wave sleep (SWS), characterized by an increase in delta power (typically 0.1-4 Hz) of EEG spectral analysis is considered to be a core component of deep sleep and is associated with sleep's anabolic restorative properties necessary for good mental and physical health. The reduction of delta power represents one of the hallmarks of sleep alterations with age. In order to study effects of chronic growth hormone (GH) and melatonin administration on sleep EEG power spectra, young (3-4 months) and old (22-23 months) male Wistar rats were implanted with EEG and EMG electrodes. During one month a group of old animals was treated with GH administered intraperitonealy (i.p.), second group of old animals was treated with melatonin diluted in drinking water. Additional two groups of young and old rats with no treatment served as controls. After the treatment, EEG and EMG were recorded and analyzed. Then Fast Fourier transform was used to compute spectral power of REM and NREM sleep. Our results show rapid..