Re-entrainment of Body Temperature in Experimental Shift-Work Studies

Abstract

In a series of experimental shift work studies six subjects worked on continuous night shift for three weeks, four subjects worked on a 1-1-1 shift system (1st day morning shift, 2nd day afternoon shift, 3rd day night shift, 4th day off), and two subjects worked on an 2-2-2 shift system (the ‘metropolitan rota’). Rectal temperature was continuously recorded in each experiment. The greatest changes in the circadian rhythm of body temperature occurred on the second night shift day, and during the first week of continuous night shift working. The changes involved both shifts in the phasing of the rhythm, and alterations in its form. The re-entrainment of the rhythm to its normal phasing took two or more days after two or more successive night shifts, but only one day after a single night shift. Considerable individual differences in the rhythm adjustment to night work were observed. In a field validation of these findings, 34 shiftworkers in municipal gas and water supply undertakings measured their oral temperature every 2h both on and off duty. Although only very few temperature readings were obtained during sleep periods, the results confirmed, in general, those of the experimental studies.

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