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Light and Circadian Activity in the Blind Mole Rat

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Photobiology

Abstract

The present study describes the role of light in entraining the locomotor activity pattern of the blind mole rate, Spalax ehrenbergi, a rodent well adapted to a totally subterranean life. Mole rats were found to have a diurnal monophasic activity pattern under laboratory conditions with 14L/1OD photoperiod. The light stimulus received by their atrophied eyes is the main zeitgeber in entraining their activity rhythm. Under constant dim light the animals free run with period lengths of close to 24 h.

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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Rado, R., Gev, H., Goldman, B.D., Terkel, J. (1991). Light and Circadian Activity in the Blind Mole Rat. In: Riklis, E. (eds) Photobiology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3732-8_61

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3732-8_61

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6661-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3732-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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