The Role of Reproductive Hormones in Sex Differences in Sleep Homeostasis and Arousal Response in Mice

There are various sex differences in sleep/wake behaviors mice. However, it is unclear whether there sleep homeostasis and arousal responses gonadal hormones involved these differences. Here, we examined under baseline condition, after deprivation by gentle handling, to repeated cage changes male female C57BL/6 mice that hormonally intact, gonadectomized, or gonadectomized with hormone supplementation. Compared males, females had longer wake time, shorter non-rapid eye movement (NREMS) rapid (REMS) episodes. After deprivation, males showed an increase NREMS delta power, REMS but a smaller increase. Females similar responses. Gonadectomy only modest effect on homeostatic regulation enhanced females. weakened response With replacement, was of intact females, close males. Gonadal supplementation restored not These results indicate differ their sleep–wake behavior, regulation, external stimuli, which differentially affected reproductive hormones.