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Abstract
The circadian rhythm of locomotor activity was assayed in both sexes of Clarias batrachus using infrared sensors connected to an Angus event recorder. Circadian parameters of locomotor activity rhythm, such as rhythm-adjusted average (Mesor), amplitude (A), acrophase (Ø) and period (τ), were determined in C. batrachus maintained under LD 12:12 (I), DD, LD 12:12 (II) and LL for given number of days in each schedule. Each individual fish was exposed to different LD schedules in the order mentioned above. Results of this study revealed that (1) C. batrachus is nocturnal; (2) it exhibits LD-entrainment of its locomotor activity that free-runs under constant conditions; and (3) the period of its locomotor activity rhythm is independent of the factor gender. It appears that multiple oscillators underlie the overt circadian rhythm of locomotion in C. batrachus. This catfish is an important commercial species and understanding of its circadian clock might help in the optimization of its management and pisciculture practices.
Acknowledgements
Supported by generous grants from the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, under its DRS Special Assistance Program sanctioned to the School of Life Sciences, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, India. One of us (AR) is the recipient of the Junior Research Fellowship (NET-JRF) from CSIR-UGC, New Delhi. We are thankful to Dr. Arti Parganiha, who read the draft version of this paper and offered useful suggestions. We are grateful to the Head of the Department, School of Life Sciences, who provided us with all the essential laboratory facilities for this work.