Sex-Specific Effects of Sleep Restriction on Food Intake and Neuropeptide Expression in Zebrafish.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Sleep restriction increased food intake in male zebrafish and lowered brain POMC levels. Female zebrafish responded differently, spending less time feeding instead.
Key Numbers
n=30 males, n=27 females; males: significant increase in food intake (mg and pellets); reduced POMC mRNA in sleep-restricted males; females: decreased feeding time
How They Did This
Controlled experiment with three groups: nighttime vibration (sleep restriction), daytime vibration (control for vibration stress), and no vibration. Individually and group-housed adult zebrafish. Food intake measured daily. Brain neuropeptide expression by RT-qPCR.
Why This Research Matters
Sleep loss drives overeating in mammals. This zebrafish study confirms the link extends to fish and reveals sex differences in how sleep disruption affects appetite-regulating brain peptides.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Zebrafish brain circuits differ from mammalian systems. Sleep measured behaviorally, not by EEG. Small sample sizes. Short-term sleep restriction protocol. Cannot directly translate to human sleep and appetite.
Trust & Context
- Original Title:
- Sex-Specific Effects of Sleep Restriction on Food Intake and Neuropeptide Expression in Zebrafish.
- Published In:
- Journal of sleep research, e70235 (2025)
- Authors:
- Sabella, Agustina, Canesini, Guillermina, Gaydou, Luisa, Schumacher, Rocío, Baños, Adrián Exequiel, Stoker, Cora, Sigot, Valeria, Fernández, Pamela Rocío, Ramos, Jorge Guillermo, García, Ana Paula
- Database ID:
- RPEP-13351
Evidence Hierarchy
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-13351APA
Sabella, Agustina; Canesini, Guillermina; Gaydou, Luisa; Schumacher, Rocío; Baños, Adrián Exequiel; Stoker, Cora; Sigot, Valeria; Fernández, Pamela Rocío; Ramos, Jorge Guillermo; García, Ana Paula. (2025). Sex-Specific Effects of Sleep Restriction on Food Intake and Neuropeptide Expression in Zebrafish.. Journal of sleep research, e70235. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.70235
MLA
Sabella, Agustina, et al. "Sex-Specific Effects of Sleep Restriction on Food Intake and Neuropeptide Expression in Zebrafish.." Journal of sleep research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.70235
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Sex-Specific Effects of Sleep Restriction on Food Intake and..." RPEP-13351. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/sabella-2025-sexspecific-effects-of-sleep
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.