Name: recording and analysis of circadian rhythms in running-wheel activity in rodents
Uploaded: 2013-01-24T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Recording and Analysis of Circadian Rhythms in Running-wheel Activity in Rodents Video at JoVE.com

The authors would like to acknowledge salary awards, equipment grants, and operating funds from the Fonds de la recherche en sant&eacute; Qu&eacute;bec (FRSQ), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Concordia University Research Chairs Program (CRUC), as well as the thoughtful feedback on this manuscript from Dr. Jane Stewart.

1. Animal Housing
<ol>
	<li>Cage: In order to record the running-wheel activity of an individual rodent, each cage should house a single rodent and running-wheel. Because running wheels can be considered a form of enrichment, all rodents in any study should have similar access to a running wheel.</li>
	<li>Bedding changes: Animal handling as well as changes in cages or bedding can all have non-photic effects on circadian rhythms21-23, so, cages with mesh-flooring are idea...

<ol>
	<li>Pittendrigh, C. S., Daan, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Functional+Analysis+of+Circadian+Pacemakers+in+Nocturnal+Rodents.+V.+Pacemaker+Structure:+A+Clock+for+All+Seasons.">A Functional Analysis of Circadian Pacemakers in Nocturnal Rodents. V. Pacemaker Structure: A Clock for All Seasons.</a> J. Comp. Physiol. 106, 333-355 (1976).</li><li>Pittendrigh, C. S., Daan, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Functional+Analysis+of+Circadian+Pacemakers+in+Nocturnal+Rodents.+IV.+Entrainment:+Pacemaker+as+Clock.">A Functional Analysis of Circadian Pacemakers in Nocturnal Rodents. IV. Entrainment: Pacemaker as Clock.</a> J. Comp. Physiol. 106, 291-331 (1976).</li><li>Pittendrigh, C. S., Daan, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Functional+Analysis+of+Circadian+Pacemakers+in+Nocturnal+Rodents.+III.+Heavy+Water+and+Constant+Light:+Homeostasis+of+Frequency?.">A Functional Analysis of Circadian Pacemakers in Nocturnal Rodents. III. Heavy Water and Constant Light: Homeostasis of Frequency?.</a> J. Comp. Physiol. 106, 267-290 (1976).</li><li>Pittendrigh, C. S., Daan, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Functional+Analysis+of+Circadian+Pacemakers+in+Nocturnal+Rodents.+II.+The+Variability+of+Phase+Response+Curves.">A Functional Analysis of Circadian Pacemakers in Nocturnal Rodents. II. The Variability of Phase Response Curves.</a> J. Comp. Physiol. 106, 253-266 (1976).</li><li>Pittendrigh, C. S., Daan, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Functional+Analysis+of+Circadian+Pacemakers+in+Nocturnal+Rodents.+I.+The+Stability+and+Lability+of+Spontaneous+Frequency.">A Functional Analysis of Circadian Pacemakers in Nocturnal Rodents. I. The Stability and Lability of Spontaneous Frequency.</a> J. Comp. Physiol. 106, 223-252 (1976).</li><li>Ralph, M. R., Foster, R. G., Davis, F. C., Menaker, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Transplanted+suprachiasmatic+nucleus+determines+circadian+period.">Transplanted suprachiasmatic nucleus determines circadian period.</a> Science. 247, 975-978 (1990).</li><li>Moore, R. Y., Eichler, V. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Loss+of+a+circadian+adrenal+corticosterone+rhythm+following+suprachiasmatic+lesions+in+the+rat.">Loss of a circadian adrenal corticosterone rhythm following suprachiasmatic lesions in the rat.</a> Brain Res. 42, 201-206 (1972).</li><li>Stephan, F. K., Zucker, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circadian+rhythms+in+drinking+behavior+and+locomotor+activity+of+rats+are+eliminated+by+hypothalamic+lesions.">Circadian rhythms in drinking behavior and locomotor activity of rats are eliminated by hypothalamic lesions.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 69, 1583-1586 (1972).</li><li>Abe, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circadian+rhythms+in+isolated+brain+regions.">Circadian rhythms in isolated brain regions.</a> J. Neurosci. 22, 350-356 (2002).</li><li>Yamazaki, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Resetting+central+and+peripheral+circadian+oscillators+in+transgenic+rats.">Resetting central and peripheral circadian oscillators in transgenic rats.</a> Science. 288, 682-685 (2000).</li><li>Lamont, E. W., Robinson, B., Stewart, J., Amir, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+central+and+basolateral+nuclei+of+the+amygdala+exhibit+opposite+diurnal+rhythms+of+expression+of+the+clock+protein+Period2.">The central and basolateral nuclei of the amygdala exhibit opposite diurnal rhythms of expression of the clock protein Period2.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 102, 4180-4184 (2005).</li><li>Amir, S., Lamont, E. W., Robinson, B., Stewart, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+circadian+rhythm+in+the+expression+of+PERIOD2+protein+reveals+a+novel+SCN-controlled+oscillator+in+the+oval+nucleus+of+the+bed+nucleus+of+the+stria+terminalis.">A circadian rhythm in the expression of PERIOD2 protein reveals a novel SCN-controlled oscillator in the oval nucleus of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis.</a> J. Neurosci. 24, 781-790 (2004).</li><li>Yoo, S. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=PERIOD2::LUCIFERASE+real-time+reporting+of+circadian+dynamics+reveals+persistent+circadian+oscillations+in+mouse+peripheral+tissues.">PERIOD2::LUCIFERASE real-time reporting of circadian dynamics reveals persistent circadian oscillations in mouse peripheral tissues.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 101, 5339-5346 (2004).</li><li>Guilding, C., Piggins, H. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Challenging+the+omnipotence+of+the+suprachiasmatic+timekeeper:+are+circadian+oscillators+present+throughout+the+mammalian+brain?.">Challenging the omnipotence of the suprachiasmatic timekeeper: are circadian oscillators present throughout the mammalian brain?.</a> Eur. J. Neurosci. 25, 3195-3216 (2007).</li><li>Boulos, Z., Terman, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Food+availability+and+daily+biological+rhythms.">Food availability and daily biological rhythms.</a> Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 4, 119-131 (1980).</li><li>Boulos, Z., Rosenwasser, A. M., Terman, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Feeding+schedules+and+the+circadian+organization+of+behavior+in+the+rat.">Feeding schedules and the circadian organization of behavior in the rat.</a> Behav. Brain Res. 1, 39-65 (1980).</li><li>Verwey, M., Amir, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Food-entrainable+circadian+oscillators+in+the+brain.">Food-entrainable circadian oscillators in the brain.</a> Eur. J. Neurosci. 30, 1650-1657 (2009).</li><li>Davidson, A. J., Poole, A. S., Yamazaki, S., Menaker, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Is+the+food-entrainable+circadian+oscillator+in+the+digestive+system?.">Is the food-entrainable circadian oscillator in the digestive system?.</a> Genes Brain Behav. 2, 32-39 (2003).</li><li>Hara, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Restricted+feeding+entrains+liver+clock+without+participation+of+the+suprachiasmatic+nucleus.">Restricted feeding entrains liver clock without participation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus.</a> Genes Cells. 6, 269-278 (2001).</li><li>Damiola, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Restricted+feeding+uncouples+circadian+oscillators+in+peripheral+tissues+from+the+central+pacemaker+in+the+suprachiasmatic+nucleus.">Restricted feeding uncouples circadian oscillators in peripheral tissues from the central pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.</a> Genes Dev. 14, 2950-2961 (2000).</li><li>Mrosovsky, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Phase+response+curves+for+social+entrainment.">Phase response curves for social entrainment.</a> J. Comp. Physiol. A. 162, 35-46 (1988).</li><li>Cain, S. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reward+and+aversive+stimuli+produce+similar+nonphotic+phase+shifts.">Reward and aversive stimuli produce similar nonphotic phase shifts.</a> Behav. Neurosci. 118, 131-137 (2004).</li><li>Antle, M. C., Mistlberger, R. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circadian+clock+resetting+by+sleep+deprivation+without+exercise+in+the+Syrian+hamster.">Circadian clock resetting by sleep deprivation without exercise in the Syrian hamster.</a> J. Neurosci. 20, 9326-9332 (2000).</li><li>Banjanin, S., Mrosovsky, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Preferences+of+mice,+Mus+musculus,+for+different+types+of+running+wheel.">Preferences of mice, Mus musculus, for different types of running wheel.</a> Lab Anim. 34, 313-318 (2000).</li><li>Verwey, M., Lam, G. Y., Amir, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Circadian+rhythms+of+PERIOD1+expression+in+the+dorsomedial+hypothalamic+nucleus+in+the+absence+of+entrained+food-anticipatory+activity+rhythms+in+rats.">Circadian rhythms of PERIOD1 expression in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus in the absence of entrained food-anticipatory activity rhythms in rats.</a> Eur. J. Neurosci. 29, 2217-2222 (2009).</li><li>Gooley, J. J., Schomer, A., Saper, C. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+dorsomedial+hypothalamic+nucleus+is+critical+for+the+expression+of+food-entrainable+circadian+rhythms.">The dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus is critical for the expression of food-entrainable circadian rhythms.</a> Nat. Neurosci. 9, 398-407 (2006).</li></ol>

Monitoring daily activity rhythms using running wheels is the most commonly used and reliable method for assessing the output of the master circadian clock in nocturnal rodents. Wheel-running activity, however, is only one of many aspects of behavior and physiology that can be monitored continuously. Although the vast majority of running-wheel activity occurs during the night, over 30% of the total wakefulness occurs during the daytime25,26. Other endpoints can be used to assess circadian rhythms, including ge...

<table border="1">
	<tbody>
 <tr>
 <td>Name of the reagent</td>
 <td>Company</td>
 <td>Catalogue number</td>
 <td>Comments (optional)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Vitalview Card &amp; Software</td>
 <td>Mini Mitter </td>
 <td>#855-0030-00</td>
 <td>(Bend, OR, USA)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>DP24 Dataport</td>
 <td>Mini Mitter </td>
 <td>#840-0024-00</td>
 <td>(Bend, OR, USA)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>QA4-Module </td>
 <td>Mini Mitter </td>
 <td>#130-0050-00</td>
 <td>(Bend, OR, USA)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Magnetic Switch</td>
 <td>Mini Mitter </td>
 <td>#130-0015-00</td>
 <td>(Bend, OR, USA)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>C-50 Cable assembly</td>
 <td>Mini Mitter </td>
 <td>#060-0045-10</td>
 <td>(Bend, OR, USA)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Rat running wheel assembly</td>
 <td>Mini Mitter </td>
 <td>#640-0700-00</td>
 <td>(Bend, OR, USA)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Cage and tray support</td>
 <td>Mini Mitter </td>
 <td>#640-0400-00</td>
 <td>(Bend, OR, USA)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Useable cut away cage</td>
 <td>Mini Mitter </td>
 <td>#664-2154-00</td>
 <td>(Bend, OR, USA)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Grid floor for cage</td>
 <td>Mini Mitter </td>
 <td>#676-2154-00</td>
 <td>(Bend, OR, USA)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Waste tray</td>
 <td>Mini Mitter </td>
 <td>#684-2154-00</td>
 <td>(Bend, OR, USA)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Lamp housing</td>
 <td>Microlites Scientific </td>
 <td>#R-101</td>
 <td>(Toronto, ON, Canada)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>4W Fluorescent lamps</td>
 <td>Microlites Scientific </td>
 <td>#F4T5/CW</td>
 <td>(Toronto, ON, Canada)</td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>Isolation chambers</td>
 <td>Custom built</td>
 <td></td>
 <td>28"H x 20"W x 28"D &frac12;" Black Melamine.</td>
 </tr>
	 </tbody>
 </table>

recording and analysis of circadian rhythms in running-wheel activity in rodents

When rodents have free access to a running wheel in their home cage, voluntary use of this wheel will depend on the time of day1-5. Nocturnal rodents, including rats, hamsters, and mice, are active during the night and relatively inactive during the day. Many other behavioral and physiological measures also exhibit daily rhythms, but in rodents, running-wheel activity serves as a particularly reliable and convenient measure of the output of the master circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. In general, through a process called entrainment, the daily pattern of running-wheel activity will naturally align with the environmental light-dark cycle (LD cycle; e.g. 12 hr-light:12 hr-dark). However circadian rhythms are endogenously generated patterns in behavior that exhibit a ~24 hr period, and persist in constant darkness. Thus, in the absence of an LD cycle, the recording and analysis of running-wheel activity can be used to determine the subjective time-of-day. Because these rhythms are directed by the circadian clock the subjective time-of-day is referred to as the circadian time (CT). In contrast, when an LD cycle is present, the time-of-day that is determined by the environmental LD cycle is called the zeitgeber time (ZT).
Although circadian rhythms in running-wheel activity are typically linked to the SCN clock6-8, circadian oscillators in many other regions of the brain and body9-14 could also be involved in the regulation of daily activity rhythms. For instance, daily rhythms in food-anticipatory activity do not require the SCN15,16 and instead, are correlated with changes in the activity of extra-SCN oscillators17-20. Thus, running-wheel activity recordings can provide important behavioral information not only about the output of the master SCN clock, but also on the activity of extra-SCN oscillators. Below we describe the equipment and methods used to record, analyze and display circadian locomotor activity rhythms in laboratory rodents.

<ol>
	<li>Computer programs: Specialized computer programs are typically used in the generation of actograms and the calculation of circadian period. These programs include, but are not limited to, Actiview (Minimitter, Bend, OR) and Circadia.</li>
	<li>Actograms: Actograms provide a graphic illustration of the daily patterns of running-wheel activity. There are single-plotted (x-axis = 24 hr) and double-plotted (x-axis = 48 hr) actograms. Both methods plot sequential days from top to bottom, but double-plott...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Recording and Analysis of Circadian Rhythms in Running-wheel Activity in Rodents Video at JoVE.com

Recording and Analysis of Circadian Rhythms in Running-wheel Activity in Rodents Video (Video) | JoVE

Circadian rhythms in voluntary wheel-running activity in mammals are tightly coupled to the molecular oscillations of a master clock in the brain. As such, these daily rhythms in behavior can be used to study the influence of genetic, pharmacological, and environmental factors on the functioning of this circadian clock.

Recording and Analysis of Circadian Rhythms in Running-wheel Activity in Rodents

When rodents have free access to a running wheel in their home cage, voluntary use of this wheel will depend on the time of day1-5. Nocturnal rodents, ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila

Assaying Locomotor Activity to Study Circadian Rhythms and Sleep Parameters in Drosophila (Video) | JoVE 

Most life forms exhibit daily rhythms in cellular, physiological and behavioral phenomena that are driven by endogenous circadian (&equiv;24 hr) ...

Large-scale Recording of Neurons by Movable Silicon Probes in Behaving Rodents

Large-scale Recording of Neurons by Movable Silicon Probes in Behaving Rodents Video (Video) | JoVE

A major challenge in neuroscience is linking behavior to the collective activity of neural assemblies. Understanding of input-output relationships of ...

A Fully Automated and Highly Versatile System for Testing Multi-cognitive Functions and Recording Neuronal Activities in Rodents

A Fully Automated and Highly Versatile System for Testing Multi-cognitive Functions and Recording Neuronal Activities in Rodents Video (Video) | JoVE

We have developed a fully automated system for operant behavior testing and neuronal activity recording by which multiple cognitive brain functions can be ...

Retrograde Fluorescent Labeling Allows for Targeted Extracellular Single-unit Recording from Identified Neurons In vivo

Retrograde Fluorescent Labeling Allows for Targeted Extracellular Single-unit Recording from Identified Neurons In vivo Video (Video) | JoVE

The overall goal of this method is to record single-unit responses from an identified population of neurons. In vivo electrophysiological recordings from ...

Multi-unit Recording Methods to Characterize Neural Activity in the Locust (Schistocerca Americana) Olfactory Circuits

Multi-unit Recording Methods to Characterize Neural Activity in the Locust Schistocerca Americana Olfactory Circuits Video (Video) | JoVE

Detection and interpretation of olfactory cues are critical for the survival  of many organisms. Remarkably, species across phyla have strikingly similar ...

Deep Brain Stimulation with Simultaneous fMRI in Rodents

Deep Brain Stimulation with Simultaneous fMRI in Rodents Video (Video) | JoVE

In order to visualize the global and downstream neuronal responses to deep brain stimulation (DBS) at various targets, we have developed a protocol for ...

In Vitro Recording of Mesenteric Afferent Nerve Activity in Mouse Jejunal and Colonic Segments

In Vitro Recording of Mesenteric Afferent Nerve Activity in Mouse Jejunal and Colonic Segments Video (Video) | JoVE

Afferent nerves not only convey information concerning normal physiology, but also signal disturbed homeostasis and pathophysiological processes of the ...

Preparations and Protocols for Whole Cell Patch Clamp Recording of Xenopus laevis Tectal Neurons

Preparations and Protocols for Whole Cell Patch Clamp Recording of Xenopus laevis Tectal Neurons Video (Video) | JoVE

The Xenopus tadpole retinotectal circuit, comprised of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the eye which form synapses directly onto neurons in the optic ...

Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays

Recording and Modulation of Epileptiform Activity in Rodent Brain Slices Coupled to Microelectrode Arrays Video (Video) | JoVE

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common partial complex epileptic syndrome and the least responsive to medications. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) ...