Association between the Effects of High Temperature on Fertility and Sleep in Female Intra-Specific Hybrids of Drosophila melanogaster.

Lyudmila P. Zakharenko,Nataliya V. Dorogova,Arcady A. Putilov,Dmitriy V. Petrovskii

doi:10.3390/insects12040336

Abstract

Simple SummaryGiven the complexity of the human reproduction system and the numerous limitations imposed on human studies, a fruit fly model was used to investigate whether the effects of high temperature on fertility and sleep correlate one with another. No evidence was provided for a causal link of temperature-sensitive sterility with sleep disturbance under high temperature in infertile females born from females of Canton-S strain and males of Harwich strain. However, sensitivity of sleep of these females to high temperature differed from that in fertile females born from females of Harwich strain and males of Canton-S strain and in males of either cross.Humans and fruit flies demonstrate similarity in sleep-wake behavior, e.g., in the pattern of sleep disturbances caused by an exposure to high temperature. Although research has provided evidence for a clear connection between sleeping problems and infertility in women, very little is known regarding the mechanisms underlying this connection. Studies of dysgenic crosses of fruit flies revealed that an exposure to elevated temperature induces sterility in female intra-specific hybrids exclusively in one of two cross directions (progeny of Canton-S females crossed with Harwich males). Given the complexity and limitations of human studies, this fruit flies’ model of temperature-sensitive sterility might be used for testing whether the effects of high temperature on fertility and on 24-h sleep pattern are inter-related. To document this pattern, 315 hybrids were kept for at least five days in constant darkness at 20 °C and 29 °C. No evidence was found for a causal link between sterility and sleep disturbance. However, a diminished thermal responsiveness of sleep was shown by females with temperature-induced sterility, while significant responses to high temperature were still observed in fertile females obtained by crossing in the opposite direction (i.e., Canton-S males with Harwich females) and in fertile males from either cross.

Highlights

Adequate sleep is crucial for health and well-being
Given the complexity of the human reproduction system and the numerous limitations imposed on human studies, fruit flies’ model was used to investigate the associations between the effects of high temperature on fertility and 24-h sleep pattern
No evidence was provided for a connection between sleep disturbance and infertility of females born from females of Canton-S strain and males of Harwich strain

Summary

Introduction

Adequate sleep is crucial for health and well-being. It comes as no surprise that a large number of diseases demonstrated the associations with the circadian and sleep disruptions. Recent research provided evidence for an important role of circadian rhythms and sleep in the reproductive health of women [1]. Fertility was found to be threatened by the disruptions of the circadian timing system and sleep [2,3,4], and similar adverse effects were found in experiments with animals. The disruptions of the circadian timing system and sleep-wake behavior resulted in diminished reproductive capacity [5]. By using several animal models, the circadian control of critical reproductive events has been demonstrated at the level of the whole organism [6] and peripheral ovarian clocks [7]. It has been shown that the neuronal control of the reproductive axis and sleep-generating neurons share an anatomical location [8]

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