Circadian responses to endotoxin treatment in mice.

We tested the ability of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to phase-shift the activity circadian rhythm in C57Bl/6J mice. Intraperitoneal administration of 25 microg/kg LPS induced photic-like phase delays (-43+/-10 min) during the early subjective night. These delays were non-additive to those induced by light at CT 15, and were reduced by the previous administration of sulfasalazine, a NF-kappaB activation inhibitor. At CT 15, LPS induced c-Fos expression in the dorsal area of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). Our results suggest that the activation of the immune system should be considered an entraining signal for the murine circadian clock.