Nature and Science of Sleep (Nov 2020)
Evaluating the Effects of Different Sleep Supplement Modes in Attenuating Metabolic Consequences of Night Shift Work Using Rat Model
Abstract
Pei-pei Zheng,1,2 Li-na Zhang,1 Jie Zhang,1 Xin-miao Chang,1 Shan Ding,1 Fei Xiao,3 Li-xin Guo1 1Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China; 2Peking University Fifth School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of China; 3The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Bejing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Health Commission; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing, 100730, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Li-xin GuoDepartment of Endocrinology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, NO. 1 DaHua Road, Dong Dan, Beijing 100730, People’s Republic of ChinaTel/Fax +86-10-65282171Email [email protected]: To study the effects of chronic-simulated night shift work using the rat model and examines if a particular sleep supplement mode could be better in alleviating the effects.Methods: The male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control (CTL: 8 rats) and night shift work (NW: 24 rats) groups of rats. Based on the sleep supplement strategy, the NW group was further segregated into three subgroups (8 rats each); late sleep supplement group (LSS), early sleep supplement group (ESS), and intermittent sleep supplement group (ISS). Sleep deprivation was achieved using the standard small-platform-over water method. Parameters such as animal body weight and food intake were measured daily. The intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, fasting plasma insulin concentration, insulin resistance index and insulin sensitivity were measured twice, in the 4th and 8th weeks of the study. Plasma corticosterone concentration and pathological changes in islets (insulitis) were measured at the end of the 8th week.Results: In NW group, night work resulted in a gain of body weight and albeit lower than that of the CTL group. NW rats also had higher food intake, showed impaired glucose metabolism and higher plasma corticosterone concentration. The sleep supplement experiments suggested that compared to the other modes, intermittent sleep supplement had significantly low changes in the body weight, glucose metabolism and the islet cells.Conclusion: Similar to previous studies, we also found that night shift work adversely impacts the body weight and glucose metabolism in rats. However, upon evaluating different sleep supplement strategies, we found the intermittent sleep supplement strategy to be most effective.Keywords: night work, sleep deprivation, sleep supplement, sleep debt, body weight, glucose metabolism, insulitis
