Fig. 5

Locomotor activity in Cx30/Cx43 double deficient mice. a Representative double-plotted actograms of spontaneous locomotor activity of a WT and a DKO mouse under different light regimes: 12:12 LD (12.1), 6 h advanced phase shift (+ 6), 6 h delayed phase shift (− 6), constant darkness (DD), constant light (LL) and second 12:12 LD (12.2). Black bars show spontaneous locomotor activity in 10 min bins. Grey boxes indicate dark phases. b Analysis of total activity under different light regimes. In LL, total activity was reduced in both, WT and DKO. Activity levels were not different between both genotypes when mice were kept in 12.1, + 6, − 6, DD, LL. However, in 12.2, the total activity was significantly higher in DKO as compared to WT (F = 1.28; T-Test: t = 2.48, P = 0.017). c Analysis of activity counts of WT and DKO during the light and dark phase in 12.1 and 12.2. In 12.2, activity during the dark phase was lower in WT as compared to DKO (F = 3.23; t-Test: t = 2.26, P = 0.04).d Analysis of the circadian period length under different light regimes showed no significant difference between the genotypes. e Analysis of amplitudes of circadian rhythms under different light regimes. There was no significant difference in amplitude between the genotypes in any of the light regimes. In 12.2 the amplitude was significantly higher in DKO as compared to WT (F = 20.09, Mann Whitney test, P = 0.018). Data are expressed as mean + SEM. f Phase angle of entrainment in 12.1, phase advance (+ 6) and phase delay (− 6) is defined as activity onset relative to light off. Phase angle of entrainment in 12.1 and after phase advance (+ 6) was not different between both genotypes. However, in first (F = 38.43, Mann Whitney test, P = 0.007) and second day (F = 11.12, Mann Whitney test; P = 0.046) after phase delay (− 6), the phase angle of entrainment was significantly higher in DKO as compared to WT Data are expressed as mean +/− SEM of n = 6 WT and n = 7 DKO mice. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 WT vs. DKO mice