Reversible suppression of circadian-driven locomotor rhythms in mice using a gradual fragmentation of the day-night cycle.

ABSTRACT: Circadian rhythms are regulated by molecular clockwork and drive 24-h behaviors such as locomotor activity, which can be rendered non-functional through genetic knockouts of clock genes. Circadian rhythms are robust in constant darkness (DD) but are modulated to become exactly 24 h by the external day-night cycle. Whether ill-timed light and dark exposure can render circadian behaviors non-functional to the extent of genetic knockouts is less clear. In this study, we discovered an environmental approach that led to a reduction or lack in rhythmic 24-h-circadian wheel-running locomotor behavior in mice (referred to as arrhythmicity). We first observed behavioral circadian arrhythmicity when mice were gradually exposed to a previously published disruptive environment called the fragmented da

SUBMITTER: Richardson MES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10475134 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature