Viagra cures hamster jetlag
Little blue pill might help people shift their body clock forwards.
It's a safe bet that most people who take sildenafil — better known under its commercial name, Viagra — aren't looking for a good night's rest. But it turns out that the 'little blue pill' commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction is also good for relieving some forms of jetlag. Well, at least in hamsters.
Comments
Someone has written in to point out that hamsters are nocturnal, and wonders how this animal model can possibly get jetlag. Well, instead of being active during the day and inactive at night, they are active at night and inactive during the day. So they still respond to light/dark cycles, just the opposite way that we do. The moment the lights go off, they apparently hop onto their little running wheels but if you shift the clock it takes them a while to get onto the new schedule.
- Heidi Ledford
Posted by: Nicola Jones | May 23, 2007 03:18 PM