Methods to record circadian rhythm wheel running activity in mice.
Forward genetic approaches (phenotype to gene) are powerful methods to identify mouse circadian clock components. The success of these approaches, however, is highly dependent on the quality of the phenotype--specifically, the ability to measure circadian rhythms in individual mice. This article outlines the factors necessary to measure mouse circadian rhythms, including choice of mouse strain, facilities and equipment design and construction, experimental design, high-throughput methods, and finally methods for data analysis.
Siepka
Sandra M
SM
Center for Functional Genomics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208, USA.
Takahashi
Joseph S
JS
D000818:Animals; D001331:Automation; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics*; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D004867:Equipment Design; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype