Mice hypomorphic for Pitx3 show robust entrainment of circadian behavioral and metabolic rhythms to scheduled feeding

Pitx3(ak )mice lack a functioning retina and develop fewer than 10% of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. Del Rio-Martin et al. (2019) reported that entrainment of circadian rhythms to daily light-dark (LD) cycles is absent in these mice, and that rhythms of locomotor activity, energy expenditure, and other metabolic variables are disrupted with food available ad libitum and fail to entrain to a daily feeding. The authors propose that retinal innervation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus is required for development of cyclic metabolic homeostasis, but methodological issues limit interpretation of the results. Using standardized feeding schedules and procedures for distinguishing free-running from entrained circadian rhythms, we confirm that behavioral and metabolic rhythms in Pitx3(ak) mice do not entrain to LD cycles, but we find no impairment in circadian organization of metabolism with food available ad libitum and no impairment in entrainment of metabolic or behavioral rhythms by daily feeding schedules. This Matters Arising paper is in response to Del Rio-Martin et al. (2019), published in Cell Reports. See also the response by Fernandez-Perez et al. (2022), published in this issue.

Automated summary

Pitx3(ak) mice have dysfunctional retina and fewer dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. They lack entrainment of circadian rhythms to light-dark cycles but show no impairment in circadian organization of metabolism with free food access or entrainment of metabolic and behavioral rhythms by daily feeding schedules.