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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Circadian rhythm
        
(Message started by: CJohnson on Jun 11^th, 2003, 11:15am)

Title: Circadian rhythm
Post by CJohnson on Jun 11^th, 2003, 11:15am

Here are some links and excerpts concerning circadean rhythm.

Alcohol and circadean rhythm:
"In animals with complex nervous systems, the basic molecular oscillator described previously is contained within thousands of individual circadian pacemaker nerve cells (i.e., neurons). Normally, circadian rhythm-generating processes are synchronized among this population of neurons by one or more mechanisms of intercellular communication. Thus, at the nerve-cell-systems level of analysis, the effects of alcohol on the circadian pacemaker could be mediated by pharmacological effects on particular neurotransmitter or neuromodulator systems that mediate intercellular communication."
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-2/126-135.htm

Research on serotonergic regulation of hypothalamic neuroendocrine systems:
"Possibly because of its importance for survival, the hypothalamus has changed little phylogenetically and is similar in humans and in rats from a neuroanatomical and neurochemical point of view. Therefore, our studies on the regulation of serotonin (5-HT) receptor function in hypothalamic nuclei in rats will have direct relevance to humans."
http://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/deptwebs/pharm/VDKWEB.html

Ontogeny of circadian expression of serotonin N-acetyltransferase mRNA in the rat retina
"The circadian expression of the serotonin N-acetyltransferase (NAT) gene in the rat retina is considered to be generated by an endogenous retinal clock."
http://www.arclab.org/medlineupdates/abstract_11750995.html

Sleep Circadian Rhythm Main Molecules:
"Serotonin also goes through a slight concentration drop in the night due to its role in melatonin formation, but, because it is needed in many other essential parts of the brain, its concentration does not vary as much as melatonin and SAM. The molecular circadian cycle of the three molecules can be seen in graphical form below."
http://dubinserver.colorado.edu/prj/jph/braincircadian.htm

Effects of serotonin and circadian rhythm on the behavior of Bombyx mori:
"Circadian variation of serotonin in the brain was strongly related to this behavioral peak"
http://bombyx.biol.tsukuba.ac.jp/~laureline/research/

Serotonin link to circadean rhythm:
"Prosser's careful exploration and manipulation of the circadian clock has already led to some useful insights. She and a Scripps Institute researcher collaborated to confirm the existence of a serotonin receptor that is specific to the circadian clock area of the brain.
"Serotonin acts through that receptor to shift the clock. Researchers are trying to come up with serotonin drugs that specifically target this receptor. The serotonin drugs currently on the market--such as Prozac, which is commonly prescribed to combat depression--act on receptors throughout the brain. But if researchers can develop drugs that target receptors within the SCN, they will have a more discrete effect on the circadian clock," she says.
As she continues her work, Prosser is enthusiastic about its potential for improving daily life: "It's neat how readily what we're doing here in the lab can be transferred to humans. We're trying to figure out how to manipulate the circadian clock, and if we can do that, there are very direct applications to humans in terms of helping with jet lag, shift work, and sleep problems."
http://pr.tennessee.edu/alumnus/summer97/r2.html

PFDANs
-Curtis