Circadian rhythms of sleep and wakefulness in mice: analysis using long-term automated recording of sleep

Mar 1, 1985The American journal of physiology

Daily patterns of sleep and wakefulness in mice measured by long-term automated recording

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Abstract

All 10 mice showed clear circadian rhythms in sleep-wake states and wheel-running activity over up to 280 days.

Sleep-wake state percentages were similar under light-dark and continuous darkness conditions, with wake at 54.3% and 53.1%, NREM sleep at 38.1% and 39.9%, and REM sleep at 7.6% and 7.0%, respectively.
Distinct waveforms for wakefulness, NREM sleep, REM sleep, and wheel running were observed in all mice, indicating consistent patterns.
These waveforms were remarkably alike in both entrained (light-dark) and free-running (dark) conditions.
Sustained circadian rhythmicity in sleep-wake states was documented despite previous beliefs suggesting weaker circadian control compared to activity.

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Circadian rhythms of wheel-running activity and polygraphically defined wakefulness, rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep were continuously observed in ten mice (Mus musculus) under both alternating light-dark (LD 12:12) and continuous darkness (DD) conditions. Sleep-wake state was determined automatically using a computer-based method that allowed continuous recordings of from 60 to 280 days in duration. The sleep-wake state percentages (of the circadian cycle) thus obtained were in substantial agreement with other estimates for this or similar strains and showed no significant difference between LD 12:12 (wake 54.3%, NREM sleep 38.1%, REM sleep 7.6%) and DD (wake 53.1%, NREM sleep 39.9%, REM sleep 7.0%) conditions. All 10 mice exhibited clear circadian rhythms in each of the three states and wheel-running activity under both lighting conditions for the entire duration of observation. Probability functions, computed using stationary sections of data from all 10 mice, showed distinct waveforms for all three states and wheel running. These waveforms were remarkably similar under entrained and free-running conditions. This documentation of sustained circadian rhythmicity in sleep-wake state throughout observations of unprecedented length contradicts the currently common assertion that circadian control of sleep state is weaker than that of activity.

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Circadian rhythms of sleep and wakefulness in mice: analysis using long-term automated recording of sleep

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