Freerunning and entrained circadian rhythms in body temperature in the domestic cat

Abstract

The body temperature of the domestic cat was determined by radiotelemetry from implants in the peritoneal cavity. Longitudinal data were collected and analyzed with a periodic regression technique. Thermograms and actograms were constructed in order to study the transients that follow a phase shift of the LD cycle and to discern the freerun in body temperature and activity in constant dark. The main results indicate that the domestic cat has a prominent circadian rhythm in body temperature. Prominent transients occur after a phase shift of the LD cycle, and the temperature rhythm freeruns in constant dark, maintaining a constant phase angle relationship with the freerunning rhythm in activity.

Abstracting Keywords:

• temperature
• circadian rhythms
• time series analyses
• radiotelemetry
• activity
• cat

Notes

Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52245, USA.