Circadian rhythms of enzymes' activity in mice tissues during exposure to continuous illumination.

Abstract

Activity rhythms of enzymes were determined in various tissues of C57BL/6J male mice. The determinations were carried out on mice which were kept in 14 hr light: 10 hr dark regimen, and on day 2, day 5 and day 21 during exposure to continuous illumination. Locomotor activity rhythms were followed in light: dark and up to the seventh day in constant light. All the activities exhibited a significant circadian rhythm in the light: dark regimen. During the exposure to continuous illumination, the locomotor activity exhibit a free running circadian rhythm with a consistent 24 hr and 40 min, major period component. At the same time recording the rhythms of enzyme activity; enzymes exhibited various formats of response which differed from those of the locomotor activity. The results suggest that rhythms of enzyme activity, as well as the desynchronization of the rhythms, are not enzyme specific.