REST-ACTIVITY AND BODY TEMPERATURE RHYTHMS IN PanxH- MICE
Pannexins are a protein family playing an important role in the intercellular communication. We have previously demonstrated the elevated locomotor activity and wake time percentage at the expense of NREM sleep in Panxl-/- as compared to WT mice. This effect is possibly due to the decreased level of cerebral adenosine in Panxl-- mice. Thus we also proposed possible disturbances in thermoregulation and the circadian temperature curve. To check up the hypothesis, 8 adult male Panx1-/- and 8 correspondent WT mice; were implanted with intraperitoneal autonomic temperature and movement probes under anesthesia. The recording were performed for several months at the room temperature (23 ± 1°C). The results confirmed our previous data on higher movement activity in Panx1-/- vs. WT mice. Circadian rhythm of body temperature was the same in both groups of mice. Increased tendency to fall into torpor in Panxl-- vs. WT mice was observed in the four pairs of animals that were studied after the summer solstice. Howevwe, no falls were observed in another four pairs of mice studied after the winter solstice. Thus, the role of Panxl gene in the circadian rhythm of rest-activity was confirmed, although its role in the temperature rhythm and thermoregulatory reactions remains unclear and requires further investigation.