Circadian rhythm in rat H-reflex.

We measured soleus H-reflex in the Sprague-Dawley rat as a function of time of day. H-reflex amplitude displayed a marked diurnal variation, even though background EMG and M-response amplitude were stable through the day. The H-reflex was largest in the late morning and smallest around midnight. Thus, its rhythm was opposite in phase to the circadian rhythm found in the primate H-reflex. This rhythm is a potentially confounding factor in studies of motor function. Furthermore, its existence implies that the CNS activity underlying a specific motor performance varies with time of day.