[Influence of melatonin and diclofenac on circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in rats with local inflammatory arthritis].

Inflammatory arthritis is accompanied by disorganization of the circadian rhythm of locomotion in rats. Control saline injections increased the rhythm disturbances. Chronic administration of melatonin (5 mg/kg) attenuated these chronopathological shifts. Diclofenac demonstrated much lower positive chronopharmacological activity than did melatonin.