Sleep loss in male rats contributes more to weight gain during sleep disruption than stress assessed by corticosterone

Sleep disruption (SD) promotes stress which may mediate the effect of SD induced by noise on bodyweight gain and food intake. We determined if the change in bodyweight during SD caused by noise was driven by stress (assessed by corticosterone) and whether the effects of noise on SD, stress and bodyweight were specific to the method of SD or a consequence of SD per se. We isolated stress from SD due to noise by exposing rats to noise during the darkphase to test whether darkphase noise stimulated weight gain, stress and food intake. Male SpragueDawley rats slept undisturbed, were exposed to noise during both circadian phases (lightphase vs darkphase) and lightphase gentle handling. Bodyweight, food intake, physical activity, vigilance states, and plasma corticosterone were determined. Darkphase noise did not affect vigilance states. Unlike lightphase noise, darkphase noise and lightphase gentle handling did not stimulate weight gain or food intake. Only gentle handling significantly increased corticosterone levels. Noise during the lightphase increasesed weight gain and food intake by causing SD and these effects were not driven by stress as assessed by corticosterone. These results may have significant implications for developing translational models of insomnia-induced obesity in humans.