Endogenous ultradian rhythms in rats exposed to prolonged continuous light.

Circadian rhythms of locomotor activity, body temperature, and plasma corticosterone were determined simultaneously in individual rats that were exposed to 200 lx continuous light for over 3 mo. Free-running circadian rhythms of locomotor activity persisted for about 2 mo under continuous light and then the rhythms gradually decomposed. After 3 mo of exposure, circadian rhythms disappeared and activity bursts of 1- to 2-h duration manifested themselves several times during a 24-h period. Body temperature also exhibited several bursts of fluctuation and these bursts were closely correlated in their temporal sequence with those of locomotor activity. A least-squares spectrum analysis revealed that the burst had regular 4- to 6-h periods. Plasma corticosterone, determined by serial sampling at 2-h intervals from individual rats, also exhibited several secretion episodes in a day. These episodic secretions synchronized with bursts of locomotor activity. These results suggest that the ultradian component, manifested under prolonged continuous light, is a fundamental unit of the circadian rhythm and an oscillator for the ultradian rhythm is common to the three functions examined.