Seasonal change in the temporal organization of wheel-running activity of the European Hamster,Cricetus cricetus

Wollnik, Franziska; Breit, Alexandra; Reinke, Dagmar

doi:10.1007/bf01133417

Cited by 34 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The results also fit with the observation of Feoktistova and Mesherski (Feoktistova & Meshcherskii, 2003) that, the exploratory activity in the open field is higher in P. sungorus than in P. roborovskii. According to others, wheel running activity can be taken as an estimate of the exploratory/ foraging behavior of the animals (Rusak, 1989;Wollnik et al, 1991). These results would imply that P. sungorus has a bigger home range and performs longer excursions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…In some experiments, running wheels where used to record locomotor activity as this is the method of choice in many chronobiological studies (Mrosovsky et al, 1998). Also, according to various authors, wheelrunning activity may be a good estimate for the foraging activity outside the burrow (Rusak, 1989;Wollnik et al, 1991). In the outdoor experiments, special rings were fixed to the entrance of the nest boxes or the burrows.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Circadian activity rhythms of dwarf hamsters (Phodopus spp.) under laboratory and semi-natural conditions

Weinert¹,

Schöttner²,

Surov³

et al. 2009

Rus.J.Theriol.

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The hamsters of the genus Phodopus (P. campbelli, P. sungorus, P. roborovskii) inhabit different ecosystems facing them with different environmental challenges. This should have behavioural and physiological consequences, manifested genetically. Therefore, the present paper compares the daily activity rhythm of the three Phodopus species under various conditions, from highly standardized laboratory to semi-natural ones. Motor activity was recorded by the mean of passive infrared sensors (PIR), running wheels (RW) and ring-shaped sensors (RSS) placed on the burrow entrances. Under standardized laboratory conditions with artificial light-dark cycles (L:D=14:10h or 18:06h), all hamsters were active almost exclusively during the dark time. The amount of general activity (PIR method) per day was not different between males and females or between species. The onset of activity (RSS) was significantly later in P. campbelli than in the two other species, the activity offset was earliest in P. roborovskii. The latter had also the shortest duration of dark-time activity. Running wheels were used mainly during the dark time (on average 97%). P. sungorus did run significantly more than the other two species. On average they realized 9000 revolutions per day (ca. 3.5 km). The rhythm stability was lowest in P. sungorus. In some hamsters of this species, the activity onset was delayed by several hours, and the activity period was strongly compressed. Also, a free-running rhythm despite the presences of a light-dark cycle or arrhythmicity was observed in those animals. Differences between the species were also found during the last weeks of life. Whereas P. campbelli and P. roborovskii revealed clear activity rhythms until the last decade, in P. sungorus the activity rhythm disappeared from the last 100 days of life. First studies under semi-natural conditions were performed at the Biological Station of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution in Tchernogolovka. These included experiments in a laboratory though with natural lighting and temperature conditions and in outdoor enclosures. In one of them (75 m 2) artificial nest boxes were provided, in the other two (400 m 2 each) the animals could dig their own burrows. The observed activity patterns are similar to those obtained under constant, standardized conditions. Moreover, the animals did clearly respond to the changing photoperiod. The activity patterns of each species described in the present paper are rather similar under semi-natural and artificial environmental conditions. This can be taken as evidence that the obtained species-specific patterns have a genetic basis and are not caused by the different environmental conditions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circadian activity rhythms of dwarf hamsters (Phodopus spp.) under laboratory and semi-natural conditions

Weinert¹,

Schöttner²,

Surov³

et al. 2009

Rus.J.Theriol.

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show abstract

“…This finding would suggest a weaker SCN clock output to the pineal gland in summer compared with winter and thus implies a marked seasonal variation in SCN clock activity. In contrast to this hypothesis, however, is the observation of a stronger daily locomotor rhythm in summer compared with winter (76), which can be entrained by a light stimulus (47). It is also possible that, instead of the clock itself, efferent structure(s) between the SCN and pineal gland may integrate the seasonal variation in the environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms regulating the marked seasonal variation in melatonin synthesis in the European hamster pineal gland

Garidou

Vivien-Rœls

Pévet

et al. 2003

American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comp

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Like many wild species, the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus) adapts to the marked seasonal changes in its environment, namely by hibernation and inhibition of sexual activity in winter. These annual functions are driven by the variation in the environmental factors (light, temperature) that are transmitted to the body through large variations in the duration and amplitude of the nocturnal melatonin rhythm. Here we report that the seasonal variation in melatonin synthesis is mainly driven by arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase gene transcription and enzyme activation. This, however, does not exclude participation of hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase, which may relay environmental temperature information. The in vivo experiments show that norepinephrine stimulates melatonin synthesis, this effect being gated at night. The possibility that the variation in pineal metabolism depends on a seasonal change in the suprachiasmatic nuclei clock circadian activity that is transmitted by norepinephrine is discussed.

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“…, 1999). For instance, whereas the locomotor activity pattern is clearly unimodal under LP, it is severely blunted when the animals are exposed to SP, with a pattern close to total arrhythmicity (Wollnik et al. , 1991; Monecke & Wollnik, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variations of clock gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nuclei and pars tuberalis of the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus)

Tournier

Dardente

Simonneaux

et al. 2007

Eur J of Neuroscience

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In mammals, day length (photoperiod) is read and encoded in the main circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). In turn, the SCN control the seasonal rhythmicity of various physiological processes, in particular the secretion pattern of the pineal hormone melatonin. This hormone then operates as an essential mediator for the control of seasonal physiological functions on some tissues, especially the pars tuberalis (PT). In the European hamster, both hormonal (melatonin) and behavioral (locomotor activity) rhythms are strongly affected by season, making this species an interesting model to investigate the impact of the seasonal variations of the environment. The direct (on SCN) and indirect (via melatonin on PT) effect of natural short and long photoperiod was investigated on the daily expression of clock genes, these being expressed in both tissues. In the SCN, photoperiod altered the expression of all clock genes studied. In short photoperiod, whereas Clock mRNA levels were reduced, Bmal1 expression became arrhythmic, probably resulting in the observed dramatic reduction in the rhythm of Avp expression. In the PT, Per1 and Rev-erbalpha expressions were anchored to dawn in both photoperiods. The daily profiles of Cry1 mRNA were not concordant with the daily variations in plasma melatonin although we confirmed that Cry1 expression is regulated by an acute melatonin injection in the hamster PT. The putative role of such seasonal-dependent changes in clock gene expression on the control of seasonal functions is discussed.

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Seasonal change in the temporal organization of wheel-running activity of the European Hamster,Cricetus cricetus

Cited by 34 publications

References 18 publications

Circadian activity rhythms of dwarf hamsters (Phodopus spp.) under laboratory and semi-natural conditions

Circadian activity rhythms of dwarf hamsters (Phodopus spp.) under laboratory and semi-natural conditions

Mechanisms regulating the marked seasonal variation in melatonin synthesis in the European hamster pineal gland

Seasonal variations of clock gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nuclei and pars tuberalis of the European hamster (Cricetus cricetus)

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