Circadian activity rhythms and sensitivity to noise in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Since consistent data on endogenous circadian rhythms of Mongolian gerbils are not available, the main aim of our study was to identify suitable conditions to receive stable and reproducible free-running rhythms of activity under different light intensities. Another objective was to determine the role of social cues as an exogenous zeitgeber in the absence of a light-dark (LD) cycle. We performed two long-term sets of experiments with adult male gerbils kept in climatic chambers under various photoperiods of at least 30 days each. In all cases, the time of lights on in the chambers differed from the daily starting hour of work in the animal house. Always, two animals per chamber were kept separately in cages with a running wheel while their activity was monitored continuously. During the first set, only three of eight animals developed intra- and interindividual variable free-running rhythms. The activity patterns seemed to be influenced by human activities outside, indicating high sensitivity to external factors. Subsequently, we damped the chambers and the room and restricted access to the room. In the following noise-reduced set, all gerbils developed comparable free-running rhythms of activity. We determined the mean of the free-running period tau, the activity-rest relationship alpha/theta and the amount of running wheel activity per day: tau = 23.7h +/- 0.08h under low light (5 lux) and 25.5h +/- 0.19h under high light intensities (450 lux); alpha/theta = 0.53 +/- 0.08 under 5 lux and 0.34 +/- 0.04 under 450 lux. The amount of daily activity was 12 times as high under 5 lux as under 450 lux. There was no indication that the two animals in one chamber socially synchronized each other. In conclusion, the pronounced rhythm changes in accordance with Aschoff's theory support the view that gerbils are mainly nocturnal animals.