CLOCKWORK · Work around the Clock: effects of shift work on cognitive performance and circadian organization in behavior and physiology
7РП — „Хора“ (Действия „Мария Кюри“)
- Период
- 2008-03-01 → 2010-02-28
- Финансиране от ЕС
- 157 733 €
- Участници
- 1
- Схема
- MC-IEF
Линиите свързват координатора с партньорите.
Накратко на български
Влиянието на работата на смени върху мозъка и тялото се изучава чрез модел с мишки, които се активират по различно време. Това помага да се разберат механизмите на вътрешния биоритъм и рисковете от затлъстяване или когнитивен спад при хората.
Кратко обяснение, генерирано от езиков модел по текста на CORDIS. Оригиналът е по-долу.
Резултати накратко
Work around the clock: effects of shift work on cognitive performance and circadian organization in behavior and physiology
The 'ClockWork' project aims to develop a comprehensive mouse model to study the effects of shift work. The daily organisation of our internal biological rhythms has evolved to adapt our physiology to the night-day rhythms of the environment. Modern society challenges this adaptation in many ways (e.g. artificial light, long distance travelling) and shift work can be considered as the most profound perturbation to internal rhythmical synchronisation. Under normal conditions, an orchestra of body clocks, conducted by a central pacemaker in the hypothalamus (suprachiasmatic nucleus, SCN) synchronises specific behaviour and (neuro)physiology to specific times of day leading to optimal physiological and mental performance. Shift work induced internal desynchronisation may lead to abnormal physiological responses (obesity), reduced cognitive function, and increased risk for somatic and mental disease. Although shift work occurs widely in modern society and the claims of health risks involved are severe, we know surprisingly little about the physiological and neurobiological responses to shift work due to the lack of a comprehensive animal model. Central aim We will develop a comprehensive mouse model for shift work, which will be used to describe the mechanisms of internal desynchronisation between the central circadian pacemaker (SCN) and hormonal and peripheral rhythms. Central approach Mice were forced to be active and awake by scheduled running wheel activity following a forward or backward rotating shifts either fast (3 days per shift) or slow (10 days per shift). Effects were measured: A) in the central nervous system, especially the SCN (the site of the biological circadian clock); B) metabolism and physiology; C) rhythms in peripheral organs; and D) behaviour and cognitive performance. Outcome We found that the circadian system and metabolism are intricately connected. Mice that are normally active during the night (and sleep during the day), will become day active (and sleep during the night) when they have to work for their food. This is not because the central circadian clock (SCN) has changed its activity pattern, but because it has lost its influence on a, yet unknown, circadian pacemaker that drives activity.
Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз
Цел на проекта
The 24-h organization of modern economy challenges the daily organization of our internal biological rhythms. Under normal conditions, an orchestra of body clocks, conducted by a central pacemaker in the hypothalamus (suprachiasmatic nucleus, SCN) synchronizes specific behavior and physiology to specific times of day, leading to optimal performance. Shift work conditions may reduce synchrony among body clocks, possibly leading to abnormal physiology and reduced cognitive function. Psychological stress, altered hormone levels, cancer risk, and obesity symptoms in shift workers indicate considerable consequences of internal physiological asynchrony. In this project we will keep mice under different shift work schedules to describe the mechanisms of physiological asynchrony and its consequences. Under normal light dark (LD) cycles, neuronal SCN activity is synchronized to the light, while mice are active and feed during the dark phase. Under shift work conditions, we will force feeding and/or locomotor activity in three shifts over the LD cycle. Behavioral, physiological, metabolic, and cognitive effects will be measured in mice exposed to fast advancing, slow advancing, fast delaying, and slow delaying schedules. At the end of a shift, a metabolic balance profile will be established. Electrophysiological SCN activity phase will be measured in vitro, and mice will be assessed for behavioral and feeding rhythms, for liver activity rhythm (bile acids and enzyme metabolites), and melatonin profiles. This circadian hormone was found at lower levels in shift workers and was correlated with their cancer prevalence. To assess the effects of shift work on psychological stress and cognitive performance, mice will be tested for maze learning and anxiety. The combined description of behavioral and physiological effects will provide strong insights in the impact of different shift work schedules on central and peripheral circadian organisation and cognitive performance.
Оригинален текст от CORDIS (на английски).
Участници
- RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN · GroningenКоординаторНидерландия
Връзки
Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз