Longitudinal Study of Changes in Daily Activity Rhythms over the Lifespan in Individual Male and Female C57BL/6J Mice.
Mice are used widely for research on circadian, molecular and other processes; however, little is known of circadian age- and, particularly, sex-related changes that occur over the entire lifespan of this species. To shed light on this question, the authors used a longitudinal design for the first continuous actogram measurements of general circadian locomotor activity rhythms unperturbed by photocycle or other experimental manipulations over the lifespan in male and female C57BL/6J mice. These weaning-to-death actograms are the most inclusive undertaken to date. Comparisons of circadian parameters (phase angle of entrainment, length of daily activity, bout length/intensity) were made among 4 life stages (adolescence, adult, middle age, and senescence). The present data reveal the progressive and sex-related changes in general locomotor activity pattern that occur throughout the lifespan. From the overall perspective of this study, there appears to be a need for wider age and sex representation in circadian research.
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA.
Adam C
AC
Stowie
Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA jglass@kent.edu.
J David
JD
Glass
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008027:Light; D008136:Longevity; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009043:Motor Activity; D017440:Photoperiod; D012737:Sex Factors
aging; behavior; circadian rhythm; mouse; sex-differences