Circadian organization of locomotor activity in the Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti).
The circadian organization of locomotor activity was examined in Turkish hamsters while exposed to a light-dark (LD) cycle, constant illumination (LL), and following blinding and gonadectomy. Under LD 16:8 the activity rhythm of all hamsters became well entrained with activity beginning approximately 30 min after dark onset. In contrast, when activity rhythms free-ran as the result of exposure to LL or blinding, a variety of spontaneous perturbations in the period and/or phase of the activity rhythm were observed.
D000818:Animals; D002369:Castration; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000502:physiology; D008027:Light; D008124:Locomotion; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000502:physiology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones