Irradiance responsivity and unequivocal type-1 phase responsivity of rat circadian activity rhythms

Behavioral, neuropharmacological, and molecular studies of light-induced phase shifting of rodent circadian rhythms evaluate carefully the phase dependence of light responsivity. However, much less information is available regarding the dependence of such effects on the duration and irradiance of the photic stimulus used. In this study, very brief (5-min) white light pulses of 50 microW/cm2 (175 lux) administered to hooded rats elicited unequivocal type-1 phase responsivity, without significant changes in period, and with phase shift variability comparable to that in studies using longer, higher intensity pulses. Irradiance dependence was demonstrated in the phase-delay, phase-advance, and crossover portions of the phase-response curve, with minimal phase shifting seen during the dead zone even at very high irradiance. These results indicate that maximal phase-shifting magnitude may be achieved with shorter, less intense photic stimuli than are often used in studies of the neural mechanisms involved in light responsivity of rat circadian rhythms.