Evaluating the Effects of Different Sleep Supplement Modes in Attenuating Metabolic Consequences of Night Shift Work Using Rat Model

Abstract

Purpose

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

Ethics approval

All experimental procedures were carried out in accordance with the National Institutes of Health Laboratory Animal feeding, China and were ethically approved by the Animal Administration Department of Beijing Hospital.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to data analysis, drafting or revising the article, have agreed on the journal to which the article will be submitted, gave final approval of the version to be published, and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by special fund project for clinical medical from Chinese Medical Association (Grant No. 343) and National Science Fundation of China (Grant No. 81670763).