Circadian pacemakers in lizards: phase-response curves and effects of pinealectomy

Phase-response curves (PRCs) for 6-h fluorescent light pulses are described for both intact (sham-pinealectomized) and pinealectomized iguanid lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis). Although strongly diurnal in habit the PRC for intact lizards is more typical of those seen in nocturnal rodents. Other "nocturnal" characteristics of this lizard include the fact that the average free-running period (tau) is less than 24 h and the average tau in continuous light is longer than that observed in continuous darkness. The PRC for pinealectomized lizards is greatly distorted relative to that obtained from intact lizards. This "distortion" is discussed in terms of the role of the pineal as a coupling device or as a pacemaker within a multioscillator circadian system. In some individuals pinealectomy was also associated with 1) increased instability in free-running activity rhythms or arrhythmicity and 2) nocturnal entrainment to LD 12:12.