The effect of constant illumination (LL) on circadian sleep rhythm and sexual cycle were studied in female albino rats (Sprague-Dawley, SD), hooded rats (Long-Evans, LE) and SD rats born and reared in LL. Cortical EEGs and dorsal neck EMG were used to monitor slow wave sleep (SWS), paradoxical sleep (PS) and alertness. The sums of the duration of each SWS and PS were expressed for each two hours. The bihourly distributions of SWS and PS in each animal were illustrated as graphs of circadian sleep rhythm. All experiments were performed under constant temperature (24±0.5°C) and humidity (45-55%) .
1. The strain differences between LE and SD were observed in circadian sleep rhythm under control lighting schedule (LD) . The circadian sleep rhythm in SD rats showed the sexual differentiation and the changes during sexual cycle. While in LE rats, any differences of sleep rhythm were not observed between both sexes or during sexual cycle.
2. The long term LL exposure (40-50 days) of SD rats caused the persistent estrus (PE), disrupted the circadian sleep rhythm and resulted the ultradian sleep rhythm of 4-6 hours periods. After the long term LL exposure of more than 6 months, SD rats returned to LD schedule. One month after returning to LD schedule, 3 out of 8 rats recovered the regular sexual cycle and showed the regular circadian sleep rhythm similar to control. While, the other rats showed PE or irregular sexual cycle and indicated the regular SWS rhythm, but the phase of PS rhythm in these rats was dissociated from that of SWS rhythm. On the other hand, LL exposure of LE rats also caused PE, but delayed more 30 days than SD rats. Furthermore, the electrodes implantation for these PE-LE rats recovered the sexual cycle and maintained over 50 days. The sleep rhythm in LL exposed LE rats indicated ultradian rhythm, but still maintained the circadian freerunning rhythm.
3. In the SD rats born and reared in LL, the completion of PE delayed more 20 days than control rats. The sleep rhythm in these rats showed the circadian freerunning rhythm and the changes during sexual cycle.
From these results, it is suggested that LE rats are less effective to LL exposure than SD rats and SD rats born and reared in LL may have the inheritable circadian freerunning hrythm. But, it is the future problem to elucidate the mechanism of these phenomena.
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