S. Benloucif et Ml. Dubocovich, MELATONIN AND LIGHT INDUCE PHASE-SHIFTS OF CIRCADIAN ACTIVITY RHYTHMSIN THE C3H HEN MOUSE/, Journal of biological rhythms, 11(2), 1996, pp. 113-125
This study examines the effect of light pulses and administration of t
he pineal hormone melatonin on the circadian activity rhythm of C3H/He
N mice. Mice were housed in constant dark in cages equipped with runni
ng wheels. Phase shifts in the circadian rhythm of wheel-running activ
ity were measured following treatment with a 15-min pulse of light (30
0 lux) or administration of vehicle (ethanol/saline) or melatonin (90
mu g, sc). Light treatment induced phase changes in circadian activity
rhythms; specifically, delays during early subjective night (circadia
n time [CT] 12.5 to CT 18.5) and advances during late subjective night
(CT 0.5). A single dose of melatonin administered at various CTs had
no consistent effect on free-running circadian activity rhythms. By co
ntrast, melatonin administration for 3 consecutive days at the same cl
ock time induced advances in circadian activity rhythms by more than 1
h when the first dose was administered at CT 10 and induced delays in
circadian activity rhythms by up to 1 h when the first dose was admin
istered between CT 24 and CT 2. With the caveat that multi- ple melato
nin treatments are required to induce phase shifts, the results sugges
t that the circadian timing system controlling the rhythm of wheel-run
ning activity in the C3H/HeN mouse is responsive to both light and mel
atonin.