Body temperature daily rhythms of the fat jird Meriones crassus: Effects of beta and alpha adrenergic blockers

(1)The responses of body temperature (Tb) daily rhythms of short photoperiod (8L:16D) acclimated fat jirds Meriones crassus, a nocturnal xeric burrowing species, to beta (propranolol, 4.5 mg/kg) and alpha (prazosine, 1 mg/kg) adrenergic blockade were studied.(2)The results of our study show that beta blockade significantly (p<0.01) increased Tb values during the dark phase (24:00 and 06:00 h) and shifted the acrophase.(3)Alpha blockade significantly (p<0.05) decreased Tb values during the dark phase (24:00 h) but significantly (p<0.01) also increased Tb during the light phase (12:00 h).(4)These responses are similar to those obtained for two different diurnal species inhabiting arid environments and differ from those of the nocturnal golden hamster.