Phase response curve to anisomycin in tau mutant hamsters
Mrosovsky, N.; Ralph, M.R.
Experientia 48(9): 875-877
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-4754 PMID: 1397185 Document Number: 393301
Administration of the protein synthesis inhibitor, anisomycin, to wild type hamsters produces phase shifts in their circadian rhythms that have similarities to shifts produced by non-photic behavioral stimulation. A mutation that shortens the period of rhythms in hamsters results in altered responsiveness to non-photic input. However, responses of the mutants to anisomycin are unaffected: their phase response curve (PRC) for anisomycin is similar to that of wild types. This suggests that 1) anisomycin is not acting on mechanisms specifically involved in non-photic behavioral phase shifting, and 2) the mutation affects the non-photic input pathway or the pacemaker itselt at a point that is upstream from anisomycin's site of action.