title: Phase response curve to melatonin in a putatively diurnal rodent, Octodon degus.
abstract: The degu (Octodon degus) is a diurnal rodent, although phase inversions to nocturnal behavior have been reported under specific laboratory conditions. The reliability of this animal as a diurnal model of sleep therefore requires further characterization of intrinsic circadian pacemaker properties. A phase response curve to light has been reported in the degu, and is consistent with other diurnal animals. This study reports a phase response curve to melatonin in the degu, which is distinct in orientation from the light curve.
authors.affiliation: Division of Sleep Medicine & Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA. luc.morris@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: Luc G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Tate
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D003624:Darkness; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046329:Octodon / Q000502:physiology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin