Chronic sleep restriction in the post-weaning: later effects on metabolism

Abstract

Sleep curtailment has become a hallmark of modern society with both children and adults having shorter sleep time than a few decades ago. Several studies correlate sleep restriction and increase of the weight gain indicating that sleep curtailment is a predisposing factor for obesity. Different studies with adults indicate that sleep restriction increases the food intake. Hyperphagia, weight loss, elevated energy expenditure are effects of sleep deprivation in rats. Recent study reported increased UCP1 gene expression in brown adipose tissue (BAT) of rats submitted to chronic REM-sleep deprivation. BAT is the primary site of regulatory nonshivering thermogenesis in rodents. Sleep curtailment in children may increase the risk of obesity and weight gain. Therefore, the present study aimed to study the metabolic changes due to sleep restriction in young male rats for 21 days. Will be determinate the UCPs gene expression and the histological analysis of BAT from the animals, as plasma determinations and body composition post-restriction - when the animals have 2 months old - and post 30, 60, and 120 days of recovery - when the animals will be adults. During all recovery periods, will be determinate the energy balance. Statistical analysis will be perform using two-way ANOVA complemented by Newman-Keuls test (p 0,05). (AU)