Effect of pinealectomy and circadian rhythm on avoidance behavior in the male rat.
Male adult albino rats were divided into six groups: two pinealectomized (Px); two sham-operated (Sh) and two serving as controls (C). Half of these groups were studied in daylight and the other half at night. The animals were open-field tested and then conditioned by the avoidance behavior test in the appropriate light period. No differences were observed among the groups when they were conditioned in the dark; however, the Px were conditioned significantly more rapidly than Sh or C in daylight. Intragroup comparisons between night/day conditioning showed them to be similar in Px but more rapid at night in both Sh and C. The Sh group is unique and not comparable to controls.
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats