Document Detail


Clocks for sex: loss of circadian rhythms in ants after mating?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  15257388     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
This paper describes experiments on the locomotor activity rhythm of queens of the ant species Camponotus compressus, which were performed to investigate the consequences of mating on circadian clocks. Locomotor activity rhythm of virgin and mated queens was monitored individually under constant conditions of the laboratory. The locomotor activity rhythm of virgin queens entrained to a 24 h (12:12 h) laboratory light/dark (LD) cycle and free-ran under constant dim red light (RR) with a free-running period ( tau) of approximately 24 h. The locomotor activity of the mated queens on the other hand was arrhythmic during the period when they were laying eggs, and robust rhythmicity appeared soon after the egg-laying phase was over. The tau of the locomotor activity rhythm of mated queens was significantly greater than that of virgin queens. These results are contrary to the commonly held belief that the role of circadian clocks in ant queens ceases after mating flights, thus suggesting that circadian clocks of ant queens are adaptively plastic and display activity patterns, perhaps depending on their physiological state and tasks in the colony.
Authors:
Vijay Kumar Sharma; Shahnaz Rahman Lone; Anubhuthi Goel
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2004-05-07
Journal Detail:
Title:  Die Naturwissenschaften     Volume:  91     ISSN:  0028-1042     ISO Abbreviation:  Naturwissenschaften     Publication Date:  2004 Jul 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2004-07-16     Completed Date:  2004-09-16     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0400767     Medline TA:  Naturwissenschaften     Country:  Germany    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  334-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Chronobiology Laboratory, Evolutionary and Organismal Biology Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, 560064 Bangalore, Karnataka, India. vsharma@jncasr.ac.in
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Ants / physiology*
Biological Clocks*
Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
Female
Male
Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology*

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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