title: Owls and larks in mice.
abstract: Humans come in different chronotypes and, particularly, the late chronotype (the so-called owl) has been shown to be associated with several health risks. A number of studies show that laboratory mice also display various chronotypes. In mice as well as in humans, the chronotype shows correlations with the period length and rhythm stability. In addition, some mouse models for human diseases show alterations in their chronotypic behavior, which are comparable to those humans. Thus, analysis of the behavior of mice is a powerful tool to unravel the molecular and genetic background of the chronotype and the prevalence of risks and diseases that are associated with it. In this review, we summarize the correlation of chronotype with free-running period length and rhythm stability in inbred mouse strains, in mice with a compromised molecular clockwork, and in a mouse model for neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie II, Fachbereich Medizin der Goethe-Universität , Frankfurt am Main , Germany ; Dr. Senckenbergisches Chronomedizinisches Institut, Fachbereich Medizin der Goethe-Universität , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfeffer
authors.affiliation: Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie II, Fachbereich Medizin der Goethe-Universität , Frankfurt am Main , Germany ; Dr. Senckenbergisches Chronomedizinisches Institut, Fachbereich Medizin der Goethe-Universität , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wicht
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anatomie II, Fachbereich Medizin, Heinrich Heine Universität , Düsseldorf , Germany.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Gall
authors.affiliation: Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie II, Fachbereich Medizin der Goethe-Universität , Frankfurt am Main , Germany ; Dr. Senckenbergisches Chronomedizinisches Institut, Fachbereich Medizin der Goethe-Universität , Frankfurt am Main , Germany.
authors.forename: Horst-Werner
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Korf
keywords: activity rhythms; chronobiology; chronotype; circadian rhythms; neurodegeneration; stability