Circadian Rhythm Of Body Temperature Research Articles

Циркадианный ритм температуры тела как характеристика «биологического статуса организма». Обзор

Циркадианный ритм температуры тела как характеристика «биологического статуса организма». Обзор

High ambient temperature disrupted the circadian rhythm of reproductive hormones and changed the testicular expression of steroidogenesis genes and clock genes in male mice

High ambient temperature-related male reproduction disruptions are well illustrated across species, the effects on circadian oscillation in reproduction hormones and testicular steroidogenesis remain unclear. Here, we showed the changes in circadian behaviour in rectal temperature, ingestion and serum hormones as well as the testicular oscillations of steroidogenesis genes and clock genes in heat-treated male mice. We observed that daily heat exposure from 11:00 (ZT4) to 15:00 (ZT8) increased the rectal temperature at ZT8 and water intake from ZT4 to ZT8 and decreased the feed consumption from ZT4 to ZT12 (19:00). Serum testosterone levels were arrhythmic after heat exposure, with an increase at ZT4 and a reduce at ZT8. Heat exposure enhanced testicular StAR and AR mRNA transcription at ZT4 and Cyp11a1 protein levels at ZT16. A much higher Clock mRNA level was observed at ZT4 in the testis of heat-treated mice, and the Clock protein content was reduced at ZT4. The Bmal1 protein level in the testis at ZT16 was increased in heat-treated mice. These results suggest that high external environmental temperature changes the circadian rhythms of body temperature and serum reproduction hormones and the testicular oscillations of clock genes and steroidogenesis genes, supporting the hypothesis that high temperatures arrest spermatogenesis by a disrupted reproductive rhythm.

Rhythmic Release of Corticosterone Induces Circadian Clock Gene Expression in the Cerebellum

Neurons of the cerebellar cortex contain a circadian oscillator, with circadian expression of clock genes being controlled by the master clock of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). However, the signaling pathway connecting the SCN to the cerebellum is unknown. Glucocorticoids exhibit a prominent SCN-dependent circadian rhythm, and high levels of the glucocorticoid receptor have been reported in the cerebellar cortex; we therefore hypothesized that glucocorticoids may control the rhythmic expression of clock genes in the cerebellar cortex. We here applied a novel methodology by combining the electrolytic lesion of the SCN with implantation of a micropump programmed to release corticosterone in a circadian manner mimicking the endogenous hormone profile. By use of this approach, we were able to restore the corticosterone rhythm in SCN-lesioned male rats. Clock gene expression in the cerebellum was abolished in rats with a lesioned SCN, but exogenous corticosterone restored the daily rhythm in clock gene expression in the cerebellar cortex, as revealed by quantitative real-time PCR and radiochemical in situ hybridization for the detection of the core clock genes Per1, Per2, and Arntl. On the contrary, exogenous hormone did not restore circadian rhythms in body temperature and running activity. RNAscope in situ hybridization further revealed that the glucocorticoid receptor colocalizes with clock gene products in cells of the cerebellar cortex, suggesting that corticosterone exerts its actions by binding directly to receptors in neurons of the cerebellum. However, rhythmic clock gene expression in the cerebellum was also detectable in adrenalectomized rats, indicating that additional control mechanisms exist. These data show that the cerebellar circadian oscillator is influenced by SCN-dependent rhythmic release of corticosterone.

Host circadian rhythms are disrupted during malaria infection in parasite genotype-specific manners

Infection can dramatically alter behavioural and physiological traits as hosts become sick and subsequently return to health. Such “sickness behaviours” include disrupted circadian rhythms in both locomotor activity and body temperature. Host sickness behaviours vary in pathogen species-specific manners but the influence of pathogen intraspecific variation is rarely studied. We examine how infection with the murine malaria parasite, Plasmodium chabaudi, shapes sickness in terms of parasite genotype-specific effects on host circadian rhythms. We reveal that circadian rhythms in host locomotor activity patterns and body temperature become differentially disrupted and in parasite genotype-specific manners. Locomotor activity and body temperature in combination provide more sensitive measures of health than commonly used virulence metrics for malaria (e.g. anaemia). Moreover, patterns of host disruption cannot be explained simply by variation in replication rate across parasite genotypes or the severity of anaemia each parasite genotype causes. It is well known that disruption to circadian rhythms is associated with non-infectious diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Our results reveal that disruption of host circadian rhythms is a genetically variable virulence trait of pathogens with implications for host health and disease tolerance.

Amplitude of the circadian rhythm of temperature in homeotherms.

Abstract In most endothermic homeotherms, core body temperature follows a circadian rhythm. This review focuses on the amplitude of the circadian rhythm of body temperature (CRT) because the amplitude of the CRT has received increasing attention in the last few years. First, we discuss the methodology that can be used to measure the CRT, and the methodology used to calculate the amplitude of the CRT. Then, we illustrate the effect of changes in the external and internal environments on the amplitude of the CRT. Quite interestingly, as illustrated in this paper, while the molecular and hormonal basis of the CRT is well understood, the control of the amplitude is not. We conclude that challenges in the capacity of the animal to thermoregulate, or to manage energy, can impact on the amplitude of the CRT.

Locomotor activity and body temperature rhythms in the Mahali mole-rat (C. h. mahali): The effect of light and ambient temperature variations

African mole-rats (family: Bathyergidae) are strictly subterranean mammals that reside in extensive networks of underground tunnels. They are rarely, if ever, exposed to light and experience muted temperature ranges. Despite these constant conditions, the presence of a functional circadian clock capable of entraining to external light cues has been reported for a number of species. In this study, we examine a social mole-rat species, Cryptomys hottentotus mahali, to determine if it possesses a functional circadian clock that is capable of perceiving light and ambient temperature cycles, and can integrate these cues into circadian rhythms of locomotor activity and core body temperature. Eight male and eight female, non-reproductive individuals were subjected to six cycles of varying light and temperature regimes. The majority of the individuals displayed daily rhythms of locomotor activity and body temperature that are synchronised to the external light and temperature cycles. Furthermore, endogenous rhythms of both locomotor activity and core body temperature were displayed under constant conditions. Thus, we can conclude that C. h. mahali possesses a functional circadian clock that can integrate external light and temperature cues into circadian rhythms of locomotor activity and core-body temperature.

Intranasal oxytocin administration promotes emotional contagion and reduces aggression in a mouse model of callousness

Deficits in empathy, the ability to share an emotion of another individual, constitute a hallmark of several psychopathological conditions, including conduct disorder. The co-occurrence of excess rates of aggression, general violation of societal norms and callous-unemotional traits confers specific risk for adult psychopathy. In the present study, we relied on a recently devised experimental model of conduct disorder in mice to test the potential efficacy of intranasal oxytocin administration. Two subgroups of BALB/cJ male mice exhibiting opposite profiles in emotional contagion (i.e. socially transmitted adoption of another's emotional states) underwent a series of tests mapping onto reactive aggression, information processing, perseverative behaviour, punishment-related emotional memory, physiological arousal and hormonal stress reactivity, with or without intranasal oxytocin administration (5.0 or 20.0 μg/kg). Collectively, our data indicate that a trait of markedly reduced emotional contagion is associated with a behavioural syndrome of sensorimotor gating deficits, impaired emotional memory, increased aggression and stereotyped behaviours, dysregulations in the circadian rhythms of activity and body temperature and dampened physiological reactivity to external stressors. Moreover, in the absence of changes in oxytocin receptor density in the neural network involved in empathy-like behaviour, we showed that oxytocin administration normalised emotional contagion, aggression and behavioural stereotypies, thereby ameliorating the phenotype of mice characterised by deficient empathy-like behaviour. Besides, oxytocin led to a lower, more prolonged neuroendocrine response of the HPA-axis to stress in all mice. Ultimately, current data support the notion that oxytocin may constitute a valid therapeutic approach in disturbances characterised by abnormal aggression and excess callousness.

Time management in a co-housed social rodent species (Arvicanthis niloticus)

Sociality has beneficial effects on fitness, and timing the activities of animals may be critical. Social cues could influence daily rhythmic activities via direct effects on the circadian clock or on processes that bypass it (masking), but these possibilities remain incompletely addressed. We investigated the effects of social cues on the circadian body temperature (Tb) rhythms in pairs of co-housed and isolated grass rats, Arvicanthis niloticus (a social species), in constant darkness (DD). Cohabitation did not induce synchronization of circadian Tb rhythms. However, socio-sexual history did affect circadian properties: accelerating the clock in sexually experienced males and females in DD and advancing rhythm phase in the females in a light-dark cycle. To address whether synchronization occurs at an ultradian scale, we analyzed Tb and activity rhythms in pairs of co-housed sisters or couples in DD. Regardless of pair type, co-housing doubled the percentage of time individuals were simultaneously active without increasing individual activity levels, suggesting that activity bouts were synchronized by redistribution over 24 h. Together, our laboratory findings show that social cues affect individual “time allocation” budgets via mechanisms at multiple levels of biological organization. We speculate that in natural settings these effects could be adaptive, especially for group-living animals.

Circadian rhythms of body temperature and locomotor activity in the antelope ground squirrel, Ammospermophilus leucurus

We studied circadian rhythms of body temperature and locomotor activity in antelope ground squirrels (Ammospermophilus leucurus) under laboratory conditions of a 12L:12D light-dark cycle and in constant darkness. Antelope ground squirrels are diurnally active and, exceptionally among ground squirrels and other closely related members of the squirrel family in general, they do not hibernate. Daily oscillations in body temperature consisted of a rise in temperature during the daytime activity phase of the circadian cycle and a decrease in temperature during the nighttime rest phase. The body temperature rhythms were robust (71% of maximal strength) with a daily range of oscillation of 4.6°C, a daytime mean of 38.7°C, and a nighttime mean of 34.1°C (24-h overall mean 36.4°C). The body temperature rhythm persisted in continuous darkness with a free-running period of 24.2h. This pattern is similar to that of hibernating species of ground squirrels but with a wave form more similar to that of non-hibernating rodents. Daily oscillations in body temperature were correlated with individual bouts of activity, but daytime temperatures were higher than nighttime temperatures even when comparing short episodes of nocturnal activity that were as intense as diurnal activity. This suggests that although muscular thermogenesis associated with locomotor activity can modify the level of body temperature, the circadian rhythm of body temperature is not simply a consequence of the circadian rhythm of activity.

РИТМЫ АКТИВНОСТИ-ПОКОЯ И ТЕМПЕРАТУРЫ ТЕЛА У МЫШЕЙ, НОКАУТНЫХ ПО ГЕНУ PANXI

Pannexins are a protein family playing an important role in the intercellular communication. We have previously demonstrated the elevated locomotor activity and wake time percentage at the expense of NREM sleep in Panx1­/­ as compared to WT mice. This effect is possibly due to the decreased level of cerebral adenosine in Panx1­/­ mice. Thus we also proposed possible disturbances in thermoregulation and the circadian temperature curve. To check up the hypothesis, 8 adult male Panx1­/­ and 8 correspondent WT mice; were implanted with intraperitoneal autonomic temperature and movement probes under anesthesia. The recording were performed for several months at the room temperature (23 ) 1°С). The results confirmed our previous data on higher movement activity in Panx1­/­ vs. WT mice. Circadian rhythm of body temperature was the same in both groups of mice. Increased tendency to fall into torpor in Panx1­/­ vs. WT mice was observed in the four pairs of animals that were studied after the summer solstice. Howevwe, no falls were observed in another four pairs of mice studied after the winter solstice. Thus, the role of Panx1 gene in the circadian rhythm of rest-activity was confirmed, although its role in the temperature rhythm and thermoregulatory reactions remains unclear and requires further investigation.

Sleep on a high heat capacity mattress increases conductive body heat loss and slow wave sleep

Environmental temperature can strongly affect sleep. The habitual sleep phase is usually located between evening decline and morning rise of the circadian rhythm of core body temperature (CBT). However, the thermophysiological mechanisms promoting or disturbing sleep are not yet fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a high heat capacity mattress (HHCM) on CBT, skin temperatures and sleep in comparison to a conventional low heat capacity mattress (LHCM). Based on the higher heat capacity of HHCM an increase in conductive body heat loss enhances the nocturnal decline in CBT can be expected. Based on previous findings this may then be accompanied by an increase in slow wave sleep (SWS).The mattresses were studied in a randomized single-blind crossover design in fifteen healthy young men (Age: 26.9±2.1yr, BMI: 22.2±0.4kg/m2) by overnight in laboratory standard video-polysomnography in a temperature stabilized setting. CBT, room temperature, and skin and mattress surface temperatures were continuously recorded in order to get information about inner and outer body heat flow. Additionally, subjective sleep quality was estimated by visual analogue scale.In comparison to LHCM sleep on HHCM exhibited a selective increase in SWS (16%, p<0.05), increased subjective sleep quality and sleep stability [reduced cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) rate; 5.3%, p<0.01]. Additionally, analyses of the sleep stages showed in the second part of the night a significant increase in SWS and a decrease in REMS. In addition, HHCM induced a greater reduction in CBT (maximally by −0.28°C), reduced the increase in proximal skin temperatures on the back (PROBA; maximally by −0.98°C), and delayed the increase in mattress surface temperature (maximal difference LHCM-HHCM: 6.12°C). Thus, the CBT reduction can be explained by an increase in conductive heat loss to the mattress via proximal back skin regions. Regression analysis identified PROBA as the critical variable to predict inner conductive heat transfer from core to shell and SWS.In conclusion, the study expands the previous findings that a steeper nocturnal decline in CBT increases SWS and subjective sleep quality, whereas inner conductive heat transfer could be identified as the crucial thermophysiological variable, and not CBT.

Circadian clock-mediated regulation of blood pressure.

Most bodily functions vary over the course of a 24h day. Circadian rhythms in body temperature, sleep-wake cycles, metabolism, and blood pressure (BP) are just a few examples. These circadian rhythms are controlled by the central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus and peripheral clocks located throughout the body. Light and food cues entrain these clocks to the time of day and this synchronicity contributes to the regulation of a variety of physiological processes with effects on overall health. The kidney, brain, nervous system, vasculature, and heart have been identified through the use of mouse models and clinical trials as peripheral clock regulators of BP. The dysregulation of this circadian pattern of BP, with or without hypertension, is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The mechanism of this dysregulation is unknown and is a growing area of research. In this review, we highlight research of human and mouse circadian models that has provided insight into the roles of these molecular clocks and their effects on physiological functions. Additional tissue-specific studies of the molecular clock mechanism are needed, as well as clinical studies including more diverse populations (different races, female patients, etc.), which will be critical to fully understand the mechanism of circadian regulation of BP. Understanding how these molecular clocks regulate the circadian rhythm of BP is critical in the treatment of circadian BP dysregulation and hypertension.

Influence of time-of-day on joint Navon effect.

The shared attention theory suggests that people devote greater cognitive resources to those features co-attended simultaneously with others, determining better performance in several types of tasks. When co-actors performed a go/no-go Navon task attending different features of target letters, the performance was impaired, reflecting a joint Navon effect (the representation of a co-actor's attentional focus made it more difficult to select and apply one's own focus of attention), probably due to asynchronous co-attention with a decrease in cognitive resources involved. Researches in chronobiology and chronopsychology demonstrated that not only selective attention (involved in a Navon task), but also cognitive resources have a daily fluctuations, mainly paralleling the circadian rhythm of body temperature (i.e. increasing values from the morning to evening with a subsequent decline in the night). The study was conducted to assess whether the presence of joint attention, as measured by the joint Navon effect, was influenced by the time-of-day. Sixteen pairs of participants sitting next to each other were required to respond to the identity letters in a go/no-go Navon task twice: in the morning (09:00-10:00) and early afternoon (13:00-14:00). The results showed a joint Navon effect in the morning session only, suggesting that joint attention was affected by the time-of-day effect on cognitive resources.

Deleting the Arntl clock gene in the granular layer of the mouse cerebellum: impact on the molecular circadian clockwork.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus houses the central circadian clock and is characterized by the timely regulated expression of clock genes. However, neurons of the cerebellar cortex also contain a circadian oscillator with circadian expression of clock genes being controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus. It has been suggested that the cerebellar circadian oscillator is involved in food anticipation, but direct molecular evidence of the role of the circadian oscillator of the cerebellar cortex is currently unavailable. To investigate the hypothesis that the circadian oscillator of the cerebellum is involved in circadian physiology and food anticipation, we therefore by use of Cre-LoxP technology generated a conditional knockout mouse with the core clock gene Arntl deleted specifically in granule cells of the cerebellum, since expression of clock genes in the cerebellar cortex is mainly located in this cell type. We here report that deletion of Arntl heavily influences the molecular clock of the cerebellar cortex with significantly altered and arrhythmic expression of other central clock and clock-controlled genes. On the other hand, daily expression of clock genes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus was unaffected. Telemetric registrations in different light regimes did not detect significant differences in circadian rhythms of running activity and body temperature between Arntl conditional knockout mice and controls. Furthermore, food anticipatory behavior did not differ between genotypes. These data suggest that Arntl is an essential part of the cerebellar oscillator; however, the oscillator of the granular layer of the cerebellar cortex does not control traditional circadian parameters or food anticipation.

Disrupted circadian rhythms of body temperature, heart rate and fasting blood glucose in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACTWe report a progressive disruption of 24-h rhythms in fasting blood glucose (FBG), body temperature (BT) and heart rate (HR) associated with metabolic dysfunction and the development of prediabetes (PD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in overweight middle-aged (40–69 years old) humans. Increasing BT and HR mean values and declining 24-h BT and HR amplitudes accompany adverse changes in metabolic state. Increased nocturnal BT and a phase delay of the 24-h BT rhythm, deviant 24-h HR profile and a phase advance of the 24-h HR and FBG rhythms are early signs of the PD metabolic state. In T2DM, the 24-h FBG rhythm is no longer detectable, and the 24-h amplitudes of BT and HR are greatly diminished. In addition, lepton and creatinine values were lowered in T2DM. Moreover, positive correlations between FBG and body mass index, BMI, and negative correlations between the 24-h amplitude of FBG and BMI indicate that overweight is an additional factor causing disruption of the circadian rhythms. Further studies on circadian disruption as a consequence of metabolic dysfunction are necessary. The quantitative analysis of changing circadian BT and HR rhythms may provide prognostic markers of T2DM and therapeutic targets for its prevention and correction.

Significance of circadian rhythms in severely brain-injured patients: A clue to consciousness?

Objective:To investigate the relationship between the presence of a circadian body temperature rhythm and behaviorally assessed consciousness levels in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC; i.e., vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome or minimally conscious state).Methods:In a cross-sectional study, we investigated the presence of circadian temperature rhythms across 6 to 7 days using external skin temperature sensors in 18 patients with DOC. Beyond this, we examined the relationship between behaviorally assessed consciousness levels and circadian rhythmicity.Results:Analyses with Lomb-Scargle periodograms revealed significant circadian rhythmicity in all patients (range 23.5–26.3 hours). We found that especially scores on the arousal subscale of the Coma Recovery Scale–Revised were closely linked to the integrity of circadian variations in body temperature. Finally, we piloted whether bright light stimulation could boost circadian rhythmicity and found positive evidence in 2 out of 8 patients.Conclusion:The study provides evidence for an association between circadian body temperature rhythms and arousal as a necessary precondition for consciousness. Our findings also make a case for circadian rhythms as a target for treatment as well as the application of diagnostic and therapeutic means at times when cognitive performance is expected to peak.

Seasonal loss and resumption of circadian rhythms in hibernating arctic ground squirrels.

Circadian clocks are near universal among organisms and play a key role in coordinating physiological and metabolic functions to anticipate or coincide with predictable daily changes in the physical and social environment. However, whether circadian rhythms persist and are functionally important during hibernation in all mammals is currently unclear. We examined whether circadian rhythms of body temperature (T b) persist during multi-day, steady-state torpor and investigated the association between timing of animal emergence, exposure to light, and resumption of activity and T b rhythms in free-living and captive male arctic ground squirrels. High-resolution (0.02 °C) temperature loggers revealed that circadian rhythms of T b were not present during deep torpor in free-living arctic ground squirrels. Significant circadian rhythms of T b resumed, however, following the resumption of euthermia, but prior to emergence, though rhythms became much more robust coincident with aboveground emergence. Additionally, squirrels maintained in captivity under conditions of constant darkness spontaneously developed significant circadian rhythms of T b and activity soon after ending torpor. Exposing animals to a 5-s pulse of light within a week when they ended torpor increased the strength of rhythms. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that circadian clock function is inhibited during hibernation in arctic ground squirrels, and we postulate that exposure to external stimuli, such as light in free-living animals, and meals or acute disturbance for captive squirrels, may enhance T b rhythmicity by synchronizing loosely coupled circadian oscillators within the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Bipolar mood cycles and lunar tidal cycles

In 17 patients with rapid cycling bipolar disorder, time-series analyses detected synchronies between mood cycles and three lunar cycles that modulate the amplitude of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides: the 14.8-day spring–neap cycle, the 13.7-day declination cycle and the 206-day cycle of perigee-syzygies (‘supermoons’). The analyses also revealed shifts among 1:2, 1:3, 2:3 and other modes of coupling of mood cycles to the two bi-weekly lunar cycles. These shifts appear to be responses to the conflicting demands of the mood cycles’ being entrained simultaneously to two different bi-weekly lunar cycles with slightly different periods. Measurements of circadian rhythms in body temperature suggest a biological mechanism through which transits of one of the moon’s semi-diurnal gravimetric tides might have driven the patients’ bipolar cycles, by periodically entraining the circadian pacemaker to its 24.84-h rhythm and altering the pacemaker’s phase-relationship to sleep in a manner that is known to cause switches from depression to mania.

健康と生活習慣病予防における時間栄養学の役割

Almost all metabolic activities of nutrients are under control of the endocrine system, and among them the adrenocortical activity is the most typical example that shows circadian rhythmic changes. We examined relationships between the plasma corticosterone rhythm and feeding schedules in rats. The plasma corticosterone rhythm corresponding to feeding time appears regardless of whether the rats were kept on a light-dark cycle, or in constant light or were blinded. Therefore, it can be concluded that food, more than illumination, is a potent trigger of the circadian adrenocortical rhythm in rats. In addition to the experiments in rats, we also investigated roles of feeding schedulesinformation of the adrenocortical rhythm in human subjects. The corticosterone rhythm disappeared when rats were given a liquid diet intravenously, but not orally, suggesting a necessary role of the oro-gastro-intestinal tract. In addition to the studies in rats, influence to feeding schedules on adrenocortical rhythms was also examined in hospitalized human subjects under a normal light-dark cycle. A clear plasma cortisol rhythm was observed in patients who had been fed on a liquid diet into-duodenum during a restricted time of day, suggest that the circadian cortisol rhythm in man is more closely related to feeding rhythms than cycles of light-dark and sleep-wakefulness. As far as we know, this is the first report demonstrating the important of food in entraining human circadian cortisol rhythm. Next, we measured daily rhythm ofbody temperature in hospitalized patients under continuous and cyclic TEN（totalenteral nutrition）. In the diurnal TEN group, body temperature was low at night and early morning and high in the afternoon early evening. In the continuous TEN group, however, body temperature did not show any significant change with clock-time. In conclusion, the timing of diet intake remarkably modifies the circadian rhythm of body temperature and adrenocortical activity in man. We examined relationship between the feeding time of high salt diet intake and urinary excretion of sodium and chloride. The urinary excretion of sodium and chloride were higher in evening than morning and daytime in woman, is more closely related to the circadian plasma aldosterone rhythm. Furthermore, the clock time difference in endocrine and metabolic responses after physical exercise was assessed according to biorhythm. Physical capacity changed to the time of evaluation, and was greater in the evening than in the morning. Among physiological functions that determine was development of physical strength, plasma growth hormone was higher evening exercise than morning exercise. Further studies are needed on this intriguing idea.

Circadian rhythm of body temperature and chronotype in night shift students and workers

This is a descriptive and exploratory study aiming to analyze the circardian rhythm of oral temperature and classify chronotypes in two groups (56 students and 34 nursing workers). The HorneO and of students was 26.2 years old. Working time showed significant difference (p<0,0001). Morning students showed cosinor parameters: mesor = 36,4609, amplitude = 0,2335 and acrophase =14,4658, with p-value = 0,0009; evening students showed mesor = 36,4215, amplitude= 0,2263 and acrophase= 14.3009, with p-value < 0,0001. Morning shift nursing workers presented: mesor = 36,2196, amplitude = 0,4007 and acrophase =15,0746, with p-value<0,0001. Indifferent chronotype was prevalent for the population of nursing professionals and the evening type for students. The findings showed circadian rhythm. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3823/2320