Modeling Natural Photic Entrainment in a Subterranean Rodent (Ctenomys aff. knighti), the Tuco-Tuco

Autor(es)

Flores, Danilo E. F. L. ^[1] ; Tomotani, Barbara M. ^[1] ; Tachinardi, Patricia ^[1] ; Oda, Gisele A. ^[1] ; Valentinuzzi, Veronica S. ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Fisiol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Ctr Reg Invest Cient & Transferencia Tecnol CRILA, RA-5301 Anillaco, La Rioja - Argentina

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: PLoS One; v. 8, n. 7 JUL 10 2013.
• Citações Web of Science: 6

Resumo

Subterranean rodents spend most of the day inside underground tunnels, where there is little daily change in environmental variables. Our observations of tuco-tucos (Ctenomys aff. knighti) in a field enclosure indicated that these animals perceive the aboveground light-dark cycle by several bouts of light-exposure at irregular times during the light hours of the day. To assess whether such light-dark pattern acts as an entraining agent of the circadian clock, we first constructed in laboratory the Phase Response Curve for 1 h light-pulses (1000lux). Its shape is qualitatively similar to other curves reported in the literature and to our knowledge it is the first Phase Response Curve of a subterranean rodent. Computer simulations were performed with a non-linear limit-cycle oscillator subjected to a simple model of the light regimen experienced by tuco-tucos. Results showed that synchronization is achieved even by a simple regimen of a single daily light pulse scattered uniformly along the light hours of the day. Natural entrainment studies benefit from integrated laboratory, field and computational approaches. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 08/55035-5 - Cronobiologia de roedores subterrâneos (Ctenomys knighti)
• Beneficiário: Gisele Akemi Oda
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 10/50222-1 - Ritmicidade diária da temperatura corporal em roedores subterrâneos (Ctenomys knighti)
• Beneficiário: Gisele Akemi Oda
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular