Dr Farnham’s study was focused on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) – a disorder in which breathing becomes irregular during sleep, resulting in intermittent hypoxia. OSA is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, stroke and heart failure, and is grossly underdiagnosed.
The study has uncovered a striking difference between the effects of OSA in females versus males. Females are known to have more severe symptoms at milder OSA levels compared to males, but the reasons for the differences are poorly understood. The rodent model used has proven to be an excellent model to study sex disparities, with females displaying stark differences in weight loss and blood sugar regulation compared to males. Data from the rodent model and from human plasma samples indicate that males and females have different levels of PACAP – a neuropeptide that we have previously shown is linked to OSA.
These results suggest that sleep apnoea is causing a loss of the PACAP receptor, which is responsible for mediating many of the physiological effects associated with OSA.
This project represents an important step forward in work to develop a blood test for the diagnosis of OSA, which would greatly benefit underdiagnosed population groups.
