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Cited by 38Circadian rhythm and melatoninSleep and Wakefulness ResearchSleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Predominance of Distal Skin Temperature Changes at Sleep Onset across Menstrual and Circadian Phases

Shechter, Ari, Boudreau, Philippe, Varin, France, Boivin, Diane B.·2011·Journal of Biological Rhythms
DOI 10.1177/0748730411404677
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Abstract

Menstrual cycle—associated changes in reproductive hormones affect body temperature in women. We aimed to characterize the interaction between the menstrual, circadian, and scheduled sleep-wake cycles on body temperature regulation. Eight females entered the laboratory during the midfollicular (MF) and midluteal (ML) phases of their menstrual cycle for an ultradian sleep-wake cycle procedure, consisting of 36 cycles of 60-minute wake episodes alternating with 60-minute nap opportunities, in constant bed-rest conditions. Core body temperature (CBT) and distal skin temperature (DT) were recorded and used to calculate a distal-core gradient (DCG). Melatonin, sleep, and subjective sleepiness were also recorded. The circadian variation of DT and DCG was not affected by menstrual phase. DT and DCG showed rapid, large nap episode—dependent increases, whereas CBT showed slower, smaller nap episode—dependent decreases. DCG values were significantly reduced for most of the wake episode in an overall 60-minute wake/60-minute nap cycle during ML compared to MF, but these differences were eliminated at the wake-to-nap lights-out transition. Nap episode—dependent decreases in CBT were further modulated as a function of both circadian and menstrual factors, with nap episode—dependent deceases occurring more prominently during the late afternoon/evening in ML, whereas nap episode—dependent DT and DCG increases were not significantly affected by menstrual phase but only circadian phase. Circadian rhythms of melatonin secretion, DT, and DCG were significantly phase-advanced relative to CBT and sleep propensity rhythms. This study explored how the thermoregulatory system is influenced by an interaction between circadian phase and vigilance state and how this is further modulated by the menstrual cycle. Current results agree with the thermophysiological cascade model of sleep and indicate that despite increased CBT during ML, heat loss mechanisms are maintained at a similar level during nap episodes, which may allow for comparable circadian sleep propensity rhythms between menstrual phases.

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  • Changes in thermoregulatory effectors contribute to modification of core body and distal skin temperatures and affect sleep and waking behavior.

    “These changes in thermoregulatory effectors in turn contribute to the modification of core body and distal skin temperatures [4–6] and affect sleep and waking behavior [7,8].”

    From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [5]

  • Distal skin temperature varies with the time of day.

    “Distal skin temperature (i.e., temperature of hands and feet) has also been reported to vary with the time of day [5,6,48,49].”

    From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [5]

  • The maximal value in distal skin temperature is reached shortly before the core body temperature minimum, which is observed around 04:00 in the morning.

    “Furthermore, the maximal value in distal skin temperature is reached shortly before the core body temperature minimum which is observed around 04:00 in the morning [4–6].”

    From Human thermal perception and time of day: A review (2021) · cites this paper as [5]

  • Distal skin temperature was out of phase with core body temperature, with minimum core body temperature recorded at a similar time as maximum distal skin temperature in both menstrual phases.

    “distal skin temperature was out of phase with core body temperature, with minimum core body temperature recorded at a similar time (follicular: 0434 h ± 0025; luteal: 0420 h ± 0022) as maximum distal skin temperature (follicular: 0314 h ± 0057; luteal: 0423 h ± 0104) in both menstrual phases [83].”

    From Temperature regulation in women: Effects of the menstrual cycle (2020) · cites this paper as [83]

  • Shechter et al. concluded that the changes in amplitude and level of core body temperature in the luteal phase likely reflect a thermoregulatory response to progesterone rather than a change in function of the circadian system.

    “Shechter et al. [83],concluded that the changes in amplitude and level of core body temperature in the luteal phase likely reflect a thermoregulatory response to progesterone rather than a change in function of the circadian system.”

    From Temperature regulation in women: Effects of the menstrual cycle (2020) · cites this paper as [83]

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Authors
Shechter, A., Boudreau, P., Varin, F., & Boivin, D. B.
Affiliations
  • Douglas Mental Health University Institute (CA)
  • Université de Montréal (CA)
Corresponding author
Boivin, Diane B.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Biological Rhythms
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2011-05-31
Volume
26
Issue
3
Pages
260-270
ISSN
  • 0748-7304 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-4531
DOI
10.1177/0748730411404677
OpenAlex
W2006163246
Cited by
38
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 1
FWCI
1.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Journal of Biological Rhythms (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • McGill University
  • Faculty of Medicine, McGill University
  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research
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
menstrual cycle, circadian rhythm, sleep-wake cycle, core body temperature, thermoregulation, melatonin, sleep propensity, mid-luteal phase, napping
MeSH terms
Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Menstrual Cycle, Skin Temperature, Sleep, Young Adult

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