Thermoregulatory effects of melatonin in relation to sleepiness
Abstract
Thermoregulatory processes have long been implicated in the initiation of human sleep. In this paper, we review our own studies conducted over the last decade showing a crucial role for melatonin as a mediator between the thermoregulatory and arousal system in humans. Distal heat loss, via increased skin temperature, seems to be intimately coupled with increased sleepiness and sleep induction. Exogenous melatonin administration during the day when melatonin is essentially absent mimics the endogenous thermophysiological processes occurring in the evening and induces sleepiness. Using a cold thermic challenge test, it was shown that melatonin-induced sleepiness occurs in parallel with reduction in the thermoregulatory set-point (threshold); thus, melatonin may act as a circadian modulator of the thermoregulatory set-point. In addition, an orthostatic challenge can partially block the melatonin-induced effects, suggesting an important role of the sympathetic nervous system as a link between the thermoregulatory and arousal systems. A topographical analysis of finger skin temperature with infrared thermometry revealed that the most distal parts of the fingers, i.e., fingertips, represent the important skin regions for heat loss regulation, most probably via opening the arteriovenous anastomoses, and this is clearly potentiated by melatonin. Taken together, melatonin is involved in the fine-tuning of vascular tone in selective vascular beds, as circulating melatonin levels rise and fall throughout the night. Besides the role of melatonin as "nature's soporific", it can also serve as nature's nocturnal vascular modulator.
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The DPG findings are well in line with the known role of melatonin in initiating heat loss by distal vasodilation.
“As melatonin is known to initiate heat loss by distal vasodilation of the vessels [27,52], our findings of a higher DPG, indicating a stronger heat loss, around the middle of the night (i.e., at 03:00 and 03:35) after reading on printed material compared to reading in both smartphone conditions (cf., Figure 5) are well in line with these results.”
From Preliminary Results: The Impact of Smartphone Use and Short-Wavelength Light during the Evening on Circadian Rhythm, Sleep and Alertness (2021) · cites this paper as [52]
Melatonin initiates heat loss by distal vasodilation of the vessels.
“melatonin is known to initiate heat loss by distal vasodilation of the vessels [27,52]”
From Preliminary Results: The Impact of Smartphone Use and Short-Wavelength Light during the Evening on Circadian Rhythm, Sleep and Alertness (2021) · cites this paper as [52]
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- Authors
- Kräuchi, K., Cajochen, C., Pache, M., Flammer, J., & Wirz‐Justice, A.
- Affiliations
- Universitäre Psychiatrische Kliniken Basel (CH)
- University Hospital of Basel (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Kräuchi, Kurt
- Venue
- Chronobiology International
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2006-01
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 475-484
- ISSN
- 0742-0528 (ISSN-L)
- 1525-6073
- OpenAlex
- W2112943789
- Cited by
- 152
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 2.38
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Chronobiology International (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Keywords
- melatonin, thermoregulation, sleepiness, sleep induction, thermoregulatory set point, circadian rhythm, arousal system, skin temperature, heat loss, orthostatic challenge, sympathetic nervous system, finger temperature, arteriovenous anastomoses
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Body Temperature Regulation, Circadian Rhythm, Hot Temperature, Humans, Male, Melatonin, Models, Biological, Skin Temperature, Sleep, Sleep Stages, Temperature, Time Factors
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