TRH and hypothyroidism: In addition, POPTb degrades host hormones and neurotransmitter peptides (GnRH, TRH, neurotensin, endorphin, bradykinin), which could play a role in neuroendocrine disturbances (Ndung’u et al., 1992; Tetaert et al., 1993; Bastos et al., 2010), since abnormal levels of GnRH and TRH seem to correlate with hypogonadism and hypothyroidism, symptoms associated to sleeping sickness (Hublart et al., 1988).