title: A relationship between heat loss and sleepiness: effects of postural change and melatonin administration.
abstract: Both the pineal hormone melatonin (Mel) and postural changes have thermoregulatory sequelae. The purpose of the study was to evaluate their relationship to subjective sleepiness. Eight healthy young men were investigated under the unmasking conditions of a constant routine protocol. Heart rate, rectal temperature (Tre), skin temperatures (foot, Tfo; and stomach), and subjective sleepiness ratings were continuously recorded from 1000 to 1700. Mel (5 mg po) was administered at 1300, a time when Mel should not phase shift the circadian system. Both the postural change at 1000 from upright to a supine position (lying down in bed) and Mel administration at 1300 reduced Tre and increased Tfo in parallel with increased sleepiness. These findings suggest that under comfortable ambient temperature conditions, heat loss via the distal skin regions (e.g., feet) is a key mechanism for induction of sleepiness as core body temperature declines.
authors.affiliation: Chronobiology and Sleep Laboratory, Psychiatric University Clinic, CH-4025 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kräuchi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cajochen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wirz-Justice
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin