Circadian rhythms of melatonin and behaviour in juvenile sheep in field conditions: effects of photoperiod, environment and weaning

Wyse, C.A., Zhang, X., McLaughlin, M. , Biello, S.M. , Hough, D., Bellingham, M. , Curtis, A.M., Robinson, J.E. and Evans, N.P. (2018) Circadian rhythms of melatonin and behaviour in juvenile sheep in field conditions: effects of photoperiod, environment and weaning. Physiology and Behavior, 194, pp. 362-370. (doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.06.001) (PMID:29894760)

Abstract

Entrainment of circadian rhythms (CR) to the light dark cycle has been well described under controlled, experimental conditions. However, studies in rodents have reported that rhythms in the laboratory are not always reproduced under field conditions. The aim of this study was to characterise the CR of sheep maintained under conditions of standard UK farm animal husbandry and to investigate the effects of environmental challenges presented by season, weaning and changes in housing on CR. Male sheep (n = 9) were kept at pasture, or group housed in barns, under natural photoperiod for one year. CR in locomotor activity were monitored using accelerometry, and 24 h patterns in plasma cortisol and melatonin were measured every 4 h by ELISA. CR was measured before and after weaning, in summer and winter, and at pasture and by barn housing. Cosinor analysis revealed high amplitude, diurnal rhythms in locomotor activity that were disrupted by weaning and by barn housing. Rhythms in winter showed an interrupted night time activity pattern, but only when the sheep were kept at pasture. Cortisol and melatonin secretion followed typical circadian patterns in winter and summer. The CR of the sheep under the field conditions of this study were strikingly robust under basal conditions, but easily disrupted by environmental challenges. Interrupted patterns of activity during the long nights of wintertime, not previously reported for sheep kept in experimental conditions were recorded. Based on these findings, we propose that animals require exposure to more complex environments than the laboratory in order to exhibit their true circadian phenotype.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: CW was funded by a Lord Kelvin Adam Smith Fellowship from the University of Glasgow.
• Keywords: Chronobiology, circadian, ovine, rhythms, seasonal, sheep.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Robinson, Dr Jane and Bellingham, Dr Michelle and Wyse, Dr Cathy and Evans, Professor Neil and Curtis, Professor Adam and McLaughlin, Dr Mark and Biello, Professor Stephany
• Authors: Wyse, C.A., Zhang, X., McLaughlin, M., Biello, S.M., Hough, D., Bellingham, M., Curtis, A.M., Robinson, J.E., and Evans, N.P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine; College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology
• Journal Name: Physiology and Behavior
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 0031-9384
• ISSN (Online): 1873-507X
• Published Online: 15 June 2018