[Differences of behavioral rhythms observed by flat cage and running-wheel cage in female rat]

The ambulatory, wheel-running, and drinking activities were measured in Wistar-Imamichi strain female rats under 12 L:12 D condition (6:00-18:00), using Gundai type ambulo-drinkometer (for simultaneous measurements of ambulation and drinking) and wheel-drinkometer (for simultaneous measurements of wheel-running and drinking) to compare the rhythmicities of each behavioral activity. These apparatuses are able to measure the behavioral activities over a long period, successively and automatically. The circadian patterns of ambulatory activity had two large peaks at 21 or 24:00 and at 6:00 (acrophase). Contrary to the above results, the wheel-running activity exhibited clear mono-peak at 21:00 (acrophase). Thus, apparent differences of the pattern were observed between the two activities. However, ambulatory and wheel-running activities fluctuated showing 4-days rhythmicity, and both activities increased in estrus and proestrus stages, respectively. The circadian rhythms of drinking activities measured by both apparatuses showed almost same patterns with acrophases at 6:00, and 4-days rhythmicities were also observed and were characterized by remarkable decrease of activity in every proestrus stages. From these results, it is concluded that circadian pattern of ambulatory activity is different from that of wheel-running activity, but circadian patterns of drinking activities are stable regardless of different methods of the measurement. The ambulatory, wheel-running and drinking activities reflect the behavioral changes in sexual cycles.