Pd. Penev et al., Chronic circadian desynchronization decreases the survival of animals withcardiomyopathic heart disease, AM J P-HEAR, 44(6), 1998, pp. H2334-H2337
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-HEART AND CIRCULATORY PHYSIOLOGY
Shift work is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortal
ity. Whereas it has been suggested that continuous shifting of the circadia
n clock/sleep-wake cycle may have negative effects on health, there is very
little experimental evidence to support such a hypothesis. Cardiomyopathic
Syrian hamsters were either maintained on a fixed light-dark (LD) cycle (n
= 31) or were subjected to a 12-h phase shift in the LD cycle on a weekly
basis (n = 32). The duration of the life span was recorded for each animal.
Chronic reversal of the external LD cycle at weekly intervals resulted in
a significant decrease in the survival time in cardiomyopathic hamsters wit
h the median life span being reduced by 11%. Disrupting normal circadian rh
ythmicity in an animal susceptible to early mortality due to cardiac diseas
e results in a further decrease in longevity. The deleterious effects of th
e chronic phase shifts in the LD cycle in cardiomyopathic hamsters may be r
elated to reports of increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hu
mans engaged in shift work.