Food Anticipation in Bmal1-/- and AAV-Bmal1 Rescued Mice: A Reply to Fuller et al

Evidence that circadian food-anticipatory activity and temperature rhythms are absent in Bmal1knockout mice and rescued by restoration of Bmal1 expression selectively in the dorsomedialhypothalamus was published in 2008 by Fuller et al and critiqued in 2009 by Mistlberger et al. Fulleret al have responded to the critique with new information. Here we update our critique in the lightof this new information. We also identify and correct factual and conceptual errors in the Fuller etal response. We conclude that the original results of Fuller et al remain inconclusive and fail toclarify the role of Bmal1 or the dorsomedial hypothalamus in the generation of food-entrainablerhythms in mice.