Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The circadian rhythm of the skin temperature in children during puberty

  • Published:
Human Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The results of long-term research of formation of the circadian rhythm of skin temperature (CRT) in children during puberty are described. For this purpose, the skin temperature (T) of children, adolescents, and young adults of both sexes in the age range of 8–22 years was monitored for 48 h using a Thermochron iButton device. The age-related mesor dynamics, which reflects establishment of body thermoregulation during puberty, follows a wave pattern. The first T maximum is observed in children 10–11 years of age and the second one, in adolescents 14–15 years of age. Note that the overall dynamics in boys and girls are synchronous, but the mesor for girls aged 8 to 17 years is significantly higher. In adults aged 20–22 years, men display a higher mesor value as compared to women. The dynamics of CRT amplitude is stable until the age of 12–13 years with a subsequent decrease in amplitude in boys and an increase in girls at the age of 14–15 years. The subjects of both sexes display a drastic increase in the amplitude at the age of 16–17 years and a considerable decrease by the age of maturity (20–22 years). The CRT amplitude in boys is significantly larger as compared with girls, being similar in adult males and females. Monitoring of the sleep-wake cycle has shown that diurnal thermoregulation changes at certain ages (for boys, 10–11 years and for girls, 10–11 and 16–17 years); the night temperature is higher than the day values.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Guo, H., Brewer, J.M., Lehman, M.N., and Bittman, E.L., Suprachiasmatic regulation of circadian rhythms of gene expression in hamster peripheral organs: effects of transplanting the pacemaker, J. Neurosci., 2006, vol. 26, p. 6406.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Van Someren, E.J., Raymann, R.J., Scherder, E.J., et al., Circadian and age-related modulation of thermoreception and temperature regulation: mechanisms and functional implications, Ageing Res. Rev., 2002, vol. 1, no. 4, p. 721.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Scheer, F.A., Shea, T.J., Hilton, M.F., and Shea S.A., An endogenous circadian rhythm in sleep inertia results in greatest cognitive impairment upon awakening during the biological night, J. Biol. Rhythms, 2008, no. 23, p. 353.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Refinetti, R., The circadian rhythm of body temperature, Front. Biosci., 2010, vol. 1, no. 15, p. 564.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Weinert, D., Circadian temperature variation and aging, Ageing Res. Rev., 2010, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Edwards, B.A., O’Driscoll, D.M., Ali, A., et al., Aging and sleep: physiology and pathophysiology, Semin. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 2010, vol. 31, no. 5, p. 618.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Biatteis, C.M., Age-dependent changes in temperature regulation, Gerontology, 2012, vol. 58, no. 4, p. 289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kenney, W.L. and Munce, T.A., Invited review: aging and human temperature regulation, J. Appl. Physiol., 2003, vol. 95, no. 6, p. 2598.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Pronina, T.S. and Rybakov, V.P., The age-related changes in the parameters of circadian rhythm of temperature in children aged 8–13 years, Novye Issled. Vozrast. Fiziol., 2010, vol. 36, no. 1, p. 75.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Pronina, T.S. and Rybakov, V.P., Features of the circadian rhythm of skin temperature in eight- to nine-year-old children and young adults, Hum. Physiol., 2011, vol. 37, no. 4, p. 478.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Craig, J.V., Lancaster, G.A., Williamson, P.R., and Smyth, R.L., Temperature measured at the axilla compared with rectum in children and young people: systematic review, Biol. Med. J., 2000, vol. 320, no. 7243, p. 1174.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Duru, C.O., Akinbami, F.O., and Orimadegun, A.E., A comparison of tympanic and rectal temperatures in term Nigerian neonates, BMC Pediatr., 2012, vol. 12, no. 1, p. 86.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ring, E.F., McEvoy, H., Lung, A., et al., New standards for devices used for the measurement of human body temperature, Med. Eng. Technol., 2010, vol. 34, no. 4, p. 249.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Liao, W.C., Landis, C.A., Lentz, M.J., and Chui, M.J., Effect of foot bathing on distal-proximal skin temperature gradient in elders, Int. J. Nursing Studies, 2005, vol. 42, p. 717.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Ortiz-Tudela, E., Martinez-Nicolas, A., Compos M., et al., New integrated variable based on thermometry, actimetry and body position (TAP) to evaluate circadian system status in humans, PLoS Comput. Biol., 2010, vol. 11, no. 6, p. e1000996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Duffy, J.F., Cain, S.W., Chang, A.M., et al., Sex difference in the near-24-hour intrinsic period of the human circadian timing system, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2011, vol. 108, suppl. 3, p. 15602.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Thermo Chron. Revisor. http//www.elin.ru/. April 2005.

  18. Kornienko, I.A. and Son’kin, V.D., Establishment of the neuroendocrine regulation system, in: Fiziologiya razvitiya rebenka (The Physiology of Child Development), Moscow: Inst. Vozrast. Fiziol., 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Scheer, F.A., Hu, K., Evoniuk, H., et al., Impact of the human circadian system, exercise, and their interaction on cardiovascular function, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2010, vol. 107, p. 20541.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Son’kin, V.D., Kornienko, I.A., Tambovtseva, R.V., et al., The main patterns and specific typological features of growth and physical development, in: Fiziologiya razvitiya rebenka (The Physiology of Child Development), Moscow: Inst. Vozrast. Fiziol., 2000, p. 31.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Gubin, G.D. and Gerlovin, E.T., Sutochnye ritmy biologicheskikh protsessov i vozrast. Ikh adaptivnoe znachenie (Circadian Rhythms of Biological Processes and Age: The Adaptive Significance), Novosibirsk: Nauka, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Gubin, D.G., Gubin, G.D., and Kulikov, S.V., Human body temperature as a chronobiological problem, in Tsikly (Cycles) (Proc. 3rd Int. Conference), Stavropol: Sev. Kav. Gos. Tekhn. Univ., 2001, p. 340.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Parades, S.D., Marchena, A.M., Bejarano, I., et al., Melatonin and tryptophan affect the activity-rest rhythm, core and peripheral temperatures, and interleukin levels in the ringdove: changes with age, J. Gerontol. Med. Sci., 2009, vol. 64, no. 3, p. 340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wever, P.A., Sex differences in human circadian rhythms: intrinsic periods and sleep fractions, Experientia, 1984, vol. 40, no. 11, p. 1226.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Mazzoccoli, G., Giuliani, A., Carughi, S., et al., The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and melatonin in humans: possible interactions in the control of body temperature, Neuro Endocrinol. Lett., 2004, vol. 25, no. 5, p. 368.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Antropova, M.V., Physical development of adolescents and their performance capability, in: Fiziologiya razvitiya podrostka (The Developmental Physiology of Adolescent), Moscow: Pedagogika, 1988, p. 158.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Son’kin, V.D. and Tambovtseva, R.V., Razvitie myshechnoi energetiki i rabotosposobnosi v ontogeneze (The Development of Muscle Power and Performance Capability in Ontogenesis), Moscow, Librokom, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Smyczynska, J., Stawerska, R., Lewinski, A., and Hilczer, M., Growth hormone (GH) peak after falling asleep reflects spontaneous nocturnal GH secretion, however is not corresponding to the results of GH stimulating tests in children with short stature, Neuro Endocrinol. Lett., 2012, vol. 33, no. 1, p. 37.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sel’verova, N.B. and Filippova, T.A., Development of the system of neuroendocrine regulation, in: Fiziologiya razvitiya rebenka (The Physiology of Child Development), Moscow: Izd. Inst. Vozrast. Fiziol., 2000, p. 104.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Developmental Physiology, Russian Academy of Education, Moscow, Russia

    T. S. Pronina, N. I. Orlova & V. P. Rybakov

Authors
  1. T. S. Pronina
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. I. Orlova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. P. Rybakov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. S. Pronina.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © T.S. Pronina, N.I. Orlova, V.P. Rybakov, 2015, published in Fiziologiya Cheloveka, 2015, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 74–84.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pronina, T.S., Orlova, N.I. & Rybakov, V.P. The circadian rhythm of the skin temperature in children during puberty. Hum Physiol 41, 175–184 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119715020152

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0362119715020152

Keywords

Search

Navigation