Distinct effects of acute and chronic sleep loss on DNA damage in rats

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate genetic damage induced in male rats by experimental sleep loss for short-term (24 and 96 h) and long-term (21 days) intervals, as well as their respective recovery periods in peripheral blood, brain, liver and heart tissue by the single cell gel (comet) assay. Rats were paradoxically deprived of sleep (PSD) by the platform technique for 24 or 96 h, or chronically sleep-restricted (SR) for 21 days. We also sought to verify the time course of their recovery after 24 h of rebound sleep. The results showed DNA damage in blood cells of rats submitted to PSD for 96 h. Brain tissue showed extensive genotoxic damage in PSD rats (both 24 and 96 h), though the effect was more pronounced in the 96 h group. Rats allowed to recover from the PSD-96 h and SR-21 days treatments showed DNA damage as compared to negative controls. Liver and heart did not display any genotoxicity activity. Corticosterone concentrations were increased after PSD (24 and 96 h) relative to control rats, whereas these levels were unaffected in the SR group. Collectively, these findings reveal that sleep loss was able to induce genetic damage in blood and brain cells, especially following acute exposure. Since DNA damage is an important step in events leading to genomic instability, this study represents a relevant contribution to the understanding of the potential health risks associated with sleep deprivation.

The influence of sleep deprivation and obesity on DNA damage in female Zucker rats

“…In addition, central fragments from the kidney, heart, liver, and brain (prefrontal cortex) were also collected and minced in 0.9% NaCl in preparation for the comet assay. The sub-region of the prefrontal cortex was chosen based on results from our previous studies (16,17,19). The samples were maintained at -80°C until the assays were performed.…”

“…In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the genetic changes that are caused by sleep loss in different contexts of SD (16,19). Recently, we demonstrated that SD induces genetic damage in the blood and brains cells of male rats (16), indicating that lack of sleep leads to severe molecular damage (19).…”

“…Recently, we demonstrated that SD induces genetic damage in the blood and brains cells of male rats (16), indicating that lack of sleep leads to severe molecular damage (19). In humans, the shortening of sleep can occur due to various factors, such as social life, artificial light, shift work, or sleep disturbances.…”

Is Lack of Sleep Capable of Inducing DNA Damage in Aged Skin?

“…Our group has demonstrated that PSD promoted genetic damage to the blood, brain and liver in rodents [18,19,20]. However, the consequences of sleep loss, acute or chronic, in the elderly and on skin integrity remain unknown in animal models.…”

Postoperative environmental anesthetic vapour concentrations following removal of the airway device in the operating room versus the postanesthesia care unit

“…Stress, lack of sleep, irregular nutrition, and environmental factors are also known or suspected to cause DNA damage. [25][26][27] It is clearly difficult to design a study that can isolate for the pure effects of WAG. Importantly, however, chronic exposure to WAG has yet to be proven harmless.…”