Effects of 29-h total sleep deprivation on local cold tolerance in humans

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology Vol. 112; no. 9; pp. 3239 - 3250
• Main Authors: Sauvet, Fabien, Bourrilhon, C., Besnard, Y., Alonso, A., Cottet-Emard, J.-M., Savourey, G., Launay, J.-C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.09.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological - physiology; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - physiology; Body Temperature Regulation - physiology; Catecholamines; Cold Temperature; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart rate; Heart Rate - physiology; Human Physiology; Humans; Immersion - physiopathology; Male; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Pain Measurement; Pain Perception - physiology; Physiology; Skin; Skin Temperature - physiology; Sleep deprivation; Sleep Deprivation - physiopathology; Smooth muscle; Sports Medicine; Temperature; Time Factors; Vasodilation - physiology; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; France; Thermoregulation; Cold-induced vasodilation; Sleep deprivation; Skin blood flow; Skin temperature; Human; Nervous system diseases; Temperature; Cold; Sleep disorder; Tolerance; Environmental factor; Vasodilation; Blood flow; Vasomotricity; Insomnia; Skin; Hemodynamics; Neurological disorder
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-011-2297-1

To study the effects of a 29-h total sleep deprivation (TSD) on local cold tolerance, 10 healthy men immersed their right hand for 30 min in a 5°C water bath (CWI) after a 30-min rest period in a thermoneutral environment (Control), after a normal night (NN) and after a 29-h TSD. CWI was followed by a 30-min passive rewarming (Recovery). Finger 2 and 4 skin temperatures ( T fi2, T fi4) and finger 2 cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) were monitored to study cold-induced vasodilation (CIVD). Rectal temperature ( T re), mean skin temperature ( ), heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were also measured. Blood samples were collected at the end of the Control, at the lower and at the first maximal T fi2 values during CWI and at Recovery. T fi2, T fi4 and CVC did not differ after TSD at Control, whereas they were reduced during CWI (−2.6 ± 0.7°C for T fi2; −2 ± 0.8°C for T fi4, −79 ± 25% for relative CVC, P  < 0.05) as during Recovery (−4.9 ± 1.9°C for T fi2, −2.6 ± 1.8°C for T fi4, −70 ± 22% for relative CVC, P  < 0.05). After TSD, the lower CVC values appeared earlier during CWI (−59 ± 19.6 s, P  < 0.05). After TSD at Control and CWI, plasma endothelin levels were higher and negatively correlated with T fi2, T fi4 and CVC. However, no effect of TSD was found on the number and amplitude of CIVD and in T re, HR, BP and catecholamines, for all periods. We concluded that TSD induced thermal and vascular changes in the hand which impair the local cold tolerance, suggesting that TSD increases the risk of local cold injuries.