Differences in post-chronic jet lag parameters in male and female mice

ABSTRACT

Chronic jet lag has deleterious effects on many physiological parameters. Most simulations of chronic jet lag consist of repeated advances only, while real-life conditions may differ. We compared number of transients, activity (α) and rest (ρ), and robustness of rhythm by autocorrelation in male and female AKR mice; before, during, and after simulated chronic jet lag (CJL); and phase angle of entrainment and accuracy before and after CJL, using alternate 9-h advances and delays of the light-dark schedule. Females exhibited no scalloping. Compared to pre-CJL values, α was significantly more in females post-CJL, indicating α decompression. The levels of activity increased during and after CJL, particularly in females, indicating behavioural feedback on the circadian rhythm. Robustness of rhythm (autocorrelation coefficient, and amplitude) was significantly suppressed during CJL in both males and females. Females took more transients than males to re-entrain to the final LD shift at the end of CJL. More transients were needed to re-entrain at the end of CJL, compared to a single shift. The study suggests that animals undergoing CJL incorporating alternating advances and delays are able to avoid α compression associated with jet lag, and also that females are detrimentally affected more than males.

Abbreviations: SCN: Suprachiasmatic Nuclei; CJL: Chronic Jet Lag; LD: Light-dark

KEYWORDS:

• Chronic jet lag
• rho and alpha
• transient cycles
• decompression
• advance
• delay

Acknowledgments

Support by UGC-CAS and UGC-UPE FA-II is gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Department of Science and Technology, India; [SR/CSI/157/2012]; University Grants Commission, India; [No.6-2/2017/IC].