Skip to main content
Log in

Running activity mediates the phase-advancing effects of dark pulses on hamster circadian rhythms

  • Published:
Journal of Comparative Physiology A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Pulses of darkness can phase-shift the circadian activity rhythms of hamsters,Mesocricetus auratus, kept in constant light. Dark pulses under these conditions alter photic input to the circadian system, but they also commonly trigger wheel-running activity. This paper investigates the contribution of running activity to the phase-shifting effects of dark pulses. A first experiment showed that running activity by itself can phaseshift rhythms in constant light. Hamsters were induced to run by being confined to a novel wheel for 3–5 h. When this was done at circadian times (CT) 0, 6, and 9, the mean steady-state phase-shifts were 0.6 h, 3.5 h, and 2.3 h, respectively. The latter two values are at least as large as those previously obtained with dark pulses of similar durations and circadian phases. A second experiment showed that restricting the activity of hamsters during 3-h dark pulses at CT 9 reduces the amplitude of the phase-shifts. Unrestrained animals phase-advanced by 1.1 h, but this shift was halved in animals whose wheel was locked, and completely abolished in animals confined to nest boxes during the dark pulse. Activity restriction in itself (without dark pulses) had only minimal phase-delaying effects on free-running rhythms when given between ca. CT 10 and CT 13. These results support the idea that, in hamsters at least, dark pulses affect the circadian system mostly by altering behavioural states rather than by altering photic input to the internal clock.

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

Access this article

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

Abbreviations

CT :

circadian time

DD :

constant darkness

LD :

light-dark

LL :

constant light

PRC :

phase response curve

τ :

period of rhythm

References

  • Albers HE (1986) Response of hamster circadian system to transitions between light and darkness. Am J Physiol 250:R708-R711

    Google Scholar 

  • Boulos Z, Rusak B (1982) Circadian phase response curves for dark pulses in the hamster. J Comp Physiol 146:411–417

    Google Scholar 

  • Conover WJ (1980) Practical nonparametric statistics. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Daan S, Pittendrigh CS (1976) A functional analysis of circadian pacemakers in nocturnal rodents. II. The variability of phase response curves. J Comp Physiol 106:253–266

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCoursey PJ (1960) Daily light sensitivity rhythm in a rodent. Science 131:33–35

    Google Scholar 

  • DeCoursey PJ (1973) Free-running rhythms and patterns of circadian entrainment in three species of diurnal rodents. J Interdiscipl Cycle Res 4:67–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis GB, McKlveen RE, Turek FW (1982) Dark pulses affect the circadian rhythm of activity in hamsters kept in constant light. Am J Physiol 242:R44-R50

    Google Scholar 

  • Kavanau JL (1962) Twilight transitions and biological rhythmicity. Nature 194:1293–1295

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein SEB, Binkley S, Mosher K (1985) Circadian phase of sparrows: control by light and dark. Photochem Photobiol 41:453–457

    Google Scholar 

  • Lees JG, Hallonquist JD, Mrosovsky N (1983) Differential effects of dark pulses on the two components of split circadian activity rhythms in golden hamsters. J Comp Physiol 153:123–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore-Ede MC, Sulzman FM, Fuller CA (1982) The clocks that time us. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • Mrosovsky N (1988) Phase response curves for social entrainment. J Comp Physiol A 162:35–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Navaneethakannan K, Chandrashekaran MK (1986) Light and dark pulse response curves in a day active palm squirrelFunambulus palmarum. Exp Biol 45:267–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Pittendrigh CS, Daan S (1976) A functional analysis of circadian pacemakers in nocturnal rodents. V. Pacemaker structure: a clock for all seasons. J Comp Physiol 106:333–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Reebs SG, Mrosovsky N (1989a) Effects of induced wheelrunning on the circadian activity rhythms of Syrian hamsters: entrainment and phase response curve. J Biol Rhythms 4:39–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Reebs SG, Mrosovsky N (1989b) Large phase-shifts of circadian rhythms caused by induced running in a re-entrainment paradigm: the role of pulse duration and light. J Comp Physiol A165:817–823

    Google Scholar 

  • Subbaraj R, Chandrashekaran MK (1978) Pulses of darkness shift the phase of a circadian rhythm in an insectivorous bat. J Comp Physiol 127:239–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Subbaraj R, Chandrashekaran MK (1981) Mirror imaging phase response curves obtained for the circadian rhythm of a bat with single steps of light and darkness. J Interdiscipl Cycle Res 12:305–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Swade RH, Pittendrigh CS (1967) Circadian locomotor rhythms of the rodent in the Arctic. Am Nat 101:431–466

    Google Scholar 

  • van Reeth O, Turek FW (1989) Stimulated activity mediates phase shifts in the hamster circadian clock induced by dark pulses or benzodiazepines. Nature 339:49–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahlström G (1965) The circadian rhythm of self-selected rest and activity in the canary and the effects of barbiturates, reserpine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and enforced dark periods. Acta Physiol Scand [Suppl] 250:1–67

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Reebs, S.G., Lavery, R.J. & Mrosovsky, N. Running activity mediates the phase-advancing effects of dark pulses on hamster circadian rhythms. J. Comp. Physiol. 165, 811–818 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00610879

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00610879

Keywords

Navigation