Journal of biological rhythmsJan 8, 2025

Frequent Time Zone Changes During Long-Term Jet Lag Disrupt Liver Rhythms from the Light-Dark Cycle in Male Mice

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Mar 25, 2026

Abstract

More frequent 8-hour forward shifts in light schedules led to more severe misalignment and non-fasted hyperglycemia.

paradigms are used to study the effects of circadian disruption on health.
Neither of the tested jet lag paradigms induced arrhythmicity in liver function.
Distinct effects on rhythmicity were observed between the two chronic jet lag paradigms.
Shifts every other day caused a separation between behavioral and liver rhythms from the light cycle.
Misalignment, rather than a lack of rhythm, may be the primary issue linked to metabolic dysfunction in circadian disruption.

Simplified

Circadian disruption is pervasive in modern society and associated with increased risk of disease. paradigms are popular experimental tools aiming to emulate human circadian disruption experienced during rotating and night shift work. Chronic jet lag induces metabolic phenotypes tied to liver and systemic functions, yet lack of a clear definition for how rhythmic physiology is impaired under these conditions hinders the ability to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we compared 2 common chronic jet lag paradigms and found that neither induced arrythmicity of the liver and each had distinct effects on rhythmicity. Instead, more frequent 8-h forward shifts of the light schedule induced more severe misalignment and non-fasted hyperglycemia. Every other day shifts eventually uncoupled behavioral and hepatic rhythms from the light cycle, reminiscent of free-running conditions. These results point to misalignment, not arrhythmicity, as the initial disturbance tied to metabolic dysfunction in environmental circadian disruption and highlight considerations for the interpretation and design of chronic jet lag studies.

Key numbers

17.5%

Increase in Blood Glucose (Dark Phase)

Blood glucose increase in during the dark phase.

38.9%

Increase in Blood Glucose (Light Phase)

Blood glucose increase in during the light phase.

32.76%

Decrease in Fat-to-Lean Mass Ratio

Fat-to-lean mass ratio decrease in .

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Funding

Competing interests

Conflict Of Interest StatementThe authors have no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

PubMed

Funding Sources

NIA NIH HHS

PubMed

NIGMS NIH HHS

PubMed

Frequent Time Zone Changes During Long-Term Jet Lag Disrupt Liver Rhythms from the Light-Dark Cycle in Male Mice

Abstract

Key numbers

Full Text

Funding

Competing interests

Funding Sources

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Abstract

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Funding

Competing interests

Funding Sources

Related papers

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Recent issues from the circadian biology brief