Adaptation of circadian corticosterone and catecholamine rhythms to light-dark cycle reversal in the rat

Circadian rhythms of urinary excretion of corticosterone and catecholamines were examined in the rat before and after phase reversal of a 12-hour light and 12-hour dark cycle. After the reversal, the acrophase of rhythm was delayed and became constant again on the 6th day for corticosterone and on the 7th or 8th day for adrenaline. The ratios of light-period output to 24-hour output of adrenaline and noradrenaline, however, adjusted to the new light-dark cycle on 10th day, whereas this ratio became constant on 6th day for corticosterone. Thus, circadian corticosterone rhythm seems to adapt to light-dark reversal more quickly than catecholamine rhythm.