Different behavior of body temperature and total locomotor activity daily rhythms during light/dark cycle in stabled Oryctolagus cuniculus |
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| Authors: | C. Giannetto E. Giudice F. Fazio D. Alberghina A. Assenza M. Panzera |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Veterinary Sciences, Polo Universitario Annunziata, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;2. Department of Environmental and Biological Science, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy;3. Department of Cognitive Science, Education and Cultural Studies, University of Messina, Via Concezione n. 6-8, 98122 Messina, Italy |
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| Abstract: | In order to investigate the potential causal link between the rhythm of activity and body temperature, we simultaneously recorded rectal temperature and total locomotor activity in five clinically healthy female rabbits (blue Vienna breed), 12 week old and mean body weight 2.7 ± 0.3. Animals were housed in individual cages (90?×?50?×?35 cm) under natural 12/12 light/dark cycle. Total locomotor activity was monitored for 15 days by an activity data logger. On day 1, 5, 10, and 15 rectal temperature was recorded every 2 h for a 24-h period. Application of single cosinor method showed a nocturnal daily rhythm of rectal temperature with a range of oscillation of about 1 °C, acrophase after dusk and low robustness value. The daily rhythm of locomotor activity showed its acrophase in the middle of the scotophase and a high robustness value. This information improves the knowledge available on the circadian biology of rabbits useful in the evaluation of physiology of this species. |
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| Keywords: | daily rhythm locomotor activity rabbits rectal temperature |
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