Rubidium chloride fuses split circadian activity rhythms in hamsters housed in bright constant light.

Chronotypic effects of rubidium (Rb) were examined in hamsters whose circadian activity rhythms had split into two components while they were housed in bright constant light. Seven of 12 hamsters receiving RbCl in drinking water for 10 weeks showed fusing of the components into an intact rhythm compared with none of 7 control hamsters (p = 0.016).

Lateral hypothalamic lesions in ground squirrels: rapid recovery and residual deficits.

The effects of lateral hypothalamic (LH) lesions were studied in golden-mantled ground squirrels, Spermophilus lateralis, a species of mammalian hibernator that displays endogenous circannual body weight cycles when kept in constant conditions. The lesions were made during the weight-gain phase. Evidence that the lesions were well placed included interruption of weight gain, transient aphagia, disrupted nest building, increased spillage of food crumbs and in some cases abnormal postures or movement.

Colliding of activity onset and offset: evidence for multiple circadian oscillators.

When hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus, are kept in dim light, wheel running at the onset and the offset of their active phase have different circadian periods. As a result, the active phase expands and eventually the two activity components collide. There is then a temporary explosion of activity at a time that was previously in the rest period.