Effects of individual housing on circadian rhythms of adult rats.

Circadian rhythms of hypothalamic serotonin (5HT), its precursor tryptophan (TP) and its metabolite 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid (5HIAA), and of prolactin and corticosterone circulating hormones were determined in group-housed and in individually-housed male rats, adapted to a 12:12 light/dark cycle. After 5 weeks of individual housing, 5HT peaked later, TP and 5HIAA peaked earlier, and the mesor level of TP and 5HIAA decreased with respect to group-housed animals. Individual housing caused an increase in the corticosterone mesor level, but did not affect amplitude or acrophase. The circadian rhythm of prolactin was unchanged by individual housing.