Biomaterial Database

Salivary cortisol for monitoring circadian rhythm variation in adrenal activity during shiftwork. 1993

S Shinkai, and S Watanabe, and Y Kurokawa, and J Torii

Department of Hygiene, Ehime University School of Medicine, Japan.

To examine the validity of salivary cortisol for monitoring circadian rhythm variation in adrenal activity during shiftwork, saliva and blood samples were collected at 4-h intervals in experimental short-term shifts, i.e., day (work 0830-1600 h; sleep 0030-0800 h), evening (work 1630-2400 h; sleep 0430-1200 h), and night (work 0030-0800 h; sleep 1230-2000 h) shifts over 2 days. Cortisol levels, determined by radioimmunoassay, and the circadian profiles of saliva and sera were compared. The salivary cortisol showed relatively low levels, the 2-day mean value being 3.1%-3.3% that of serum total cortisol through all shifts. Significant differences in the serum to saliva cortisol ratios were noted among shifts and subjects. When expressed as a relative percentage of a 2-day mean value, however, salivary cortisol paralleled the modified circadian profiles of serum total cortisol of the evening and night shifts, with no significant time lag and no difference in magnitude. The cosinor analysis supported this finding. Thus, salivary cortisol appears to be an excellent measure for monitoring circadian rhythm variation in adrenal activity in healthy individuals during shiftwork.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D002940	Circadian Rhythm	The regular recurrence, in cycles of about 24 hours, of biological processes or activities, such as sensitivity to drugs or environmental and physiological stimuli.	Diurnal Rhythm,Nyctohemeral Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythm,Nycthemeral Rhythm,Circadian Rhythms,Diurnal Rhythms,Nycthemeral Rhythms,Nyctohemeral Rhythms,Rhythm, Circadian,Rhythm, Diurnal,Rhythm, Nycthemeral,Rhythm, Nyctohemeral,Rhythm, Twenty-Four Hour,Rhythms, Circadian,Rhythms, Diurnal,Rhythms, Nycthemeral,Rhythms, Nyctohemeral,Rhythms, Twenty-Four Hour,Twenty Four Hour Rhythm,Twenty-Four Hour Rhythms
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006854	Hydrocortisone	The main glucocorticoid secreted by the ADRENAL CORTEX. Its synthetic counterpart is used, either as an injection or topically, in the treatment of inflammation, allergy, collagen diseases, asthma, adrenocortical deficiency, shock, and some neoplastic conditions.	Cortef,Cortisol,Pregn-4-ene-3,20-dione, 11,17,21-trihydroxy-, (11beta)-,11-Epicortisol,Cortifair,Cortril,Epicortisol,Hydrocortisone, (11 alpha)-Isomer,Hydrocortisone, (9 beta,10 alpha,11 alpha)-Isomer,11 Epicortisol
D000311	Adrenal Glands	A pair of glands located at the cranial pole of each of the two KIDNEYS. Each adrenal gland is composed of two distinct endocrine tissues with separate embryonic origins, the ADRENAL CORTEX producing STEROIDS and the ADRENAL MEDULLA producing NEUROTRANSMITTERS.	Adrenal Gland,Gland, Adrenal,Glands, Adrenal
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D012463	Saliva	The clear, viscous fluid secreted by the SALIVARY GLANDS and mucous glands of the mouth. It contains MUCINS, water, organic salts, and ptylin.	Salivas
D014940	Work Schedule Tolerance	Physiological or psychological effects of periods of work which may be fixed or flexible such as flexitime, work shifts, and rotating shifts.	Schedule Tolerance, Work,Schedule Tolerances, Work,Tolerance, Work Schedule,Tolerances, Work Schedule,Work Schedule Tolerances