Recurrent restriction of sleep and inadequate recuperation induce both adaptive changes and pathological outcomes

Abstract

Everson CA, Szabo A. Recurrent restriction of sleep and inadequate recuperation induce both adaptive changes and pathological outcomes. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 297: R1430-R1440, 2009. First published August 19, 2009 doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00230.2009.-Chronic restriction of a basic biological need induces adaptations to help meet requisites for survival. The adaptations to chronic restriction of sleep are unknown. A single episode of 10 days of partial sleep loss in rats previously was shown to be tolerated and to result in increased food intake and loss of body weight as principal signs. The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate the extent to which adaptation to chronic sleep restriction would ameliorate short-term effects and result in a changed internal phenotype. Rats were studied during 10 wk of multiple periods of restricted and unrestricted sleep to allow adaptive changes to develop. Control rats received the same ambulatory requirements only consolidated into periods that lessened interruptions of their sleep. The results indicate a latent period of relatively stable food and water intake without weight gain, followed by a dynamic phase marked by enormous increases in food and water intake and progressive loss of body weight, without malabsorption of calories. Severe consequences ensued, marked especially by changes to the connective tissues, and became fatal for two individuals. The most striking changes to internal organs in sleep-restricted rats included lengthening of the small intestine, decreased size of adipocytes, and increased incidence of multilocular adipocytes. Major organs accounted for an increased proportion of total body mass. These changes to internal tissues appear adaptive in response to high energy production, decomposition of lipids, and increased need to absorb nutrients, but ultimately insufficient to compensate for inadequate sleep. sleep rebound; adaptation; metabolism; adiposity; connective tissues; visceral organs CHRONIC DEFICIENCIES IN BASIC biological requirements produce disease. This basic principle has been well established for nutrition, hydration, and oxygen. It also is believed to be true for sleep. However, the specific physiological properties and outcomes of chronic sleep deficiency are not well elucidated. Most studies on the effects of inadequate sleep have employed previously well-rested, young, normal human and animal subjects under conditions of acute and short-term sleep loss. As may be expected, early physical signs of deprivation seem nonspecific, while subject complaints and poor cognitive performance are pronounced (e.g., reviewed in Refs. 7, 38, 48, and 52). Recently, findings in humans undergoing sleep restriction prolonged for six nights suggest sleep loss produces risk factors for obesity, diabetes, and hypertension (45, 71), but questions arise about the extent to which outcomes can be extrapolated to conditions of chronic deficiency and actually become realized. Epidemiological studies show strong linkages between sleep los...

Effects of recovery sleep after one work week of mild sleep restriction on interleukin-6 and cortisol secretion and daytime sleepiness and performance

“…These critical questions emphasize the need for future prolonged naturalistic field studies in humans. Notably, recent experiments in animals showed that repeated sleep restriction/ recovery cycles resulted in energy deficiency as shown by hyperphagia and significant weight loss and decreased plasma corticosterone and leptin concentrations as a consequence of diminished adiposity (12,13). Some of these changes were still present even after a 4-mo-long recuperation period, suggesting that repeated sleep restriction/recovery cycles may have lasting effects, which in turn may increase the likelihood of various diseases (13).…”

Adipose tissue in obesity and obstructive sleep apnoea

“…However, there are no experimental data in children or adults demonstrating that shortened sleep and/or poor sleep quality are causally related to the increased prevalence of obesity. Furthermore, in mice, chronic sleep restriction induced a catabolic state and weight loss despite increased feeding [300]. Reduced sleep duration (at least in the short-term) may increase the risk of weight gain by altering the regulation of appetite and by reducing insulin sensitivity [301][302][303].…”

Repeating patterns of sleep restriction and recovery: Do we get used to it?

“…To our knowledge, the current study protocol tests the longest model of chronic sleep restriction to date. Everson and colleagues have conducted studies of repeated exposure to sleep loss and recovery in an animal model, and have documented changes in metabolic indices (weight, food intake), and pathological organ and bone changes (Everson, 2009; Everson et al, 2009). Recovery from sleep loss has been rarely studied, but using a five night sleep restriction/two night recovery protocol, van Leeuwen and colleagues showed that IL-6 mRNA levels remained elevated after two nights of recovery sleep (van Leeuwen et al, 2009).…”