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Animal Models

Noise-induced sleep disruption increases weight gain and decreases energy metabolism in female rats

International Journal of Obesity volume 43, pages 1759–1768 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

Inadequate sleep increases obesity and environmental noise contributes to poor sleep. However, women may be more vulnerable to noise and hence more susceptible to sleep disruption-induced weight gain than men. In male rats, exposure to environmental (i.e. ambient) noise disrupts sleep and increases feeding and weight gain. However, the effects of environmental noise on sleep and weight gain in female rats are unknown. Thus, this study was designed to determine whether noise exposure would disturb sleep, increase feeding and weight gain and alter the length of the estrous cycle in female rats.

Subjects/methods

Female rats (12 weeks old) were exposed to noise for 17d (8 h/d during the light period) to determine the effects of noise on weight gain and food intake. In a separate set of females, estrous cycle phase and length, EEG, EMG, spontaneous physical activity and energy expenditure were recorded continuously for 27d during baseline (control, 9d), noise exposure (8 h/d, 9d) and recovery (9d) from sleep disruption.

Results

Noise exposure significantly increased weight gain and food intake compared to females that slept undisturbed. Noise also significantly increased wakefulness, reduced sleep and resulted in rebound sleep during the recovery period. Total energy expenditure was significantly lower during both noise exposure and recovery due to lower energy expenditure during spontaneous physical activity and sleep. Notably, noise did not alter the estrous cycle length.

Conclusions

As previously observed in male rats, noise exposure disrupted sleep and increased weight gain in females but did not alter the length of the estrous cycle. This is the first demonstration of weight gain in female rats during sleep disruption. We conclude that the sleep disruption caused by exposure to environmental noise is a significant tool for determining how sleep loss contributes to obesity in females.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for the publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health NS099468–01A1 (JAT), a CONICYT grant Fondecyt Regular 1150274 (CEP-L), and the USDA ARZT-1372540-R23–131 (JAT).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Jamie E. Coborn, Rebecca E. Lessie, Christopher M. Sinton & Jennifer A. Teske

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Naomi E. Rance

  3. Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Naomi E. Rance

  4. College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Naomi E. Rance

  5. Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Naomi E. Rance

  6. Department of Physiology, School of Biological Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Catolica, Santiago, Chile

    Claudio E. Perez-Leighton

  7. The Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Physiological Sciences at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Jennifer A. Teske

  8. The Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Jennifer A. Teske

  9. Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA

    Jennifer A. Teske

  10. Minnesota Obesity Center at the University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, USA

    Jennifer A. Teske

  11. Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Jennifer A. Teske

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  1. Jamie E. Coborn
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Correspondence to Jennifer A. Teske.

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Coborn, J.E., Lessie, R.E., Sinton, C.M. et al. Noise-induced sleep disruption increases weight gain and decreases energy metabolism in female rats. Int J Obes 43, 1759–1768 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-018-0293-9

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