Cephalo-adrenal interactions in the broader context of pragmatic and theoretical rhythm models.

Some of the literature on modeling of biological rhythms with mathematical, physical, chemical, biochemical, in vivo and in vitro oscillations is succintly annotated. The need for biologic models that account for the interaction of 3 or more periodic entities is indicated, documented and illustrated, with emphasis on the cephalo-adrenal network of rodents. Patterns of interaction, in this context, involve attenuation, no-effect and/or amplification by a third entity, the modulator, of the effect of an actor upon the reactor. Such feedsidewards lead to chronomodulation, a phenomenon accounting for qualitatively as well as quantitatively different modulatory effects of the same drug or other stimulus. Controversies of long standing can thus be resolved and novel effects uncovered.