Circadian variations in the sweating mechanism
Abstract
Sweat rates and body temperatures of human subjects were measured at 0200, 1000, and 1800 h during a heat exposure of 90 min. The latent period of sweating was not significantly altered in the evening but significantly shortened during the night. Mean body temperature corresponding to the onset of sweating was nearer to the basal body temperature during the night, while during the day the difference between these two temperatures became larger. This phenomenon seems related to the circadian cycle of vasomotor adjustment, since during the night body conductance was higher than during the day and corresponded to a state of a vasodilatation similar to that observed at the onset of sweating. During the day, this situation was reversed. During steady state, the following changes were observed: sweating rate, night less than morning less than evening; skin temperatures, night less than morning less than evening; and rectal temperature increase, morning less than evening less than night. It is hypothesized that these changes are due to either different metabolic rates or an imbalance between heat gains and losses which preserve the circadian rhythm of the body temperature, even under thermal loads.
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The circadian clock regulates diurnal variations in autonomic thermoregulatory processes such as core body temperature in humans.
“The circadian clock regulates diurnal variations in autonomic thermoregulatory processes such as core body temperature in humans.”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [1]
The daily rhythm in core body and skin temperatures is due to circadian variation in heat production and heat loss, in particular the nocturnal increase in heat loss from the extremities leading to increased distal skin temperatures.
“The daily rhythm in core body and skin temperatures is due to the circadian variation in heat production and heat loss and, in particular, the nocturnal increase in heat loss from the extremities, which leads to an increase in distal skin temperatures [1,4,50].”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [1]
During the night, the internal temperature thresholds for sweating and vasodilation are lower than during the day, while differences between morning and afternoon are smaller.
“During the night, the internal temperature thresholds for sweating and vasodilation have been shown to be lower than during the day, while the differences observed between the morning and the afternoon are smaller [1–3,51].”
From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [1]
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- Authors
- Timbal, J., Colin, J., & Boutelier, C.
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 1975-08-01
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 226-230
- ISSN
- 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
- 8750-7587
- 1522-1601
- OpenAlex
- W2460960614
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- circadian rhythm, sweating, heat exposure, body temperature, skin conductance, vasomotor control, vasodilation, rectal temperature, skin temperature, thermoregulation, metabolic rate
- MeSH terms
- Body Temperature Regulation, Body Weight, Circadian Rhythm, Environment, Controlled, Heating, Humans, Male, Sweating, Time Factors
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