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1.
J Pineal Res ; 76(4): e12956, 2024 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38695262

ABSTRACT

The circadian timing system controls glucose metabolism in a time-of-day dependent manner. In mammals, the circadian timing system consists of the main central clock in the bilateral suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the anterior hypothalamus and subordinate clocks in peripheral tissues. The oscillations produced by these different clocks with a period of approximately 24-h are generated by the transcriptional-translational feedback loops of a set of core clock genes. Glucose homeostasis is one of the daily rhythms controlled by this circadian timing system. The central pacemaker in the SCN controls glucose homeostasis through its neural projections to hypothalamic hubs that are in control of feeding behavior and energy metabolism. Using hormones such as adrenal glucocorticoids and melatonin and the autonomic nervous system, the SCN modulates critical processes such as glucose production and insulin sensitivity. Peripheral clocks in tissues, such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue serve to enhance and sustain these SCN signals. In the optimal situation all these clocks are synchronized and aligned with behavior and the environmental light/dark cycle. A negative impact on glucose metabolism becomes apparent when the internal timing system becomes disturbed, also known as circadian desynchrony or circadian misalignment. Circadian desynchrony may occur at several levels, as the mistiming of light exposure or sleep will especially affect the central clock, whereas mistiming of food intake or physical activity will especially involve the peripheral clocks. In this review, we will summarize the literature investigating the impact of circadian desynchrony on glucose metabolism and how it may result in the development of insulin resistance. In addition, we will discuss potential strategies aimed at reinstating circadian synchrony to improve insulin sensitivity and contribute to the prevention of type 2 diabetes.


Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Glucose , Humans , Animals , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Glucose/metabolism , Circadian Clocks/physiology , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology
2.
Fluids Barriers CNS ; 21(1): 46, 2024 May 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38802875

ABSTRACT

Choroid plexus (ChP), the brain structure primarily responsible for cerebrospinal fluid production, contains a robust circadian clock, whose role remains to be elucidated. The aim of our study was to [1] identify rhythmically controlled cellular processes in the mouse ChP and [2] assess the role and nature of signals derived from the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) that control ChP rhythms. To accomplish this goal, we used various mouse models (WT, mPer2Luc, ChP-specific Bmal1 knockout) and combined multiple experimental approaches, including surgical lesion of the SCN (SCNx), time-resolved transcriptomics, and single cell luminescence microscopy. In ChP of control (Ctrl) mice collected every 4 h over 2 circadian cycles in darkness, we found that the ChP clock regulates many processes, including the cerebrospinal fluid circadian secretome, precisely times endoplasmic reticulum stress response, and controls genes involved in neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and frontotemporal dementia). In ChP of SCNx mice, the rhythmicity detected in vivo and ex vivo was severely dampened to a comparable extent as in mice with ChP-specific Bmal1 knockout, and the dampened cellular rhythms were restored by daily injections of dexamethasone in mice. Our data demonstrate that the ChP clock controls tissue-specific gene expression and is strongly dependent on the presence of a functional connection with the SCN. The results may contribute to the search for a novel link between ChP clock disruption and impaired brain health.


Subject(s)
Choroid Plexus , Circadian Clocks , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Animals , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology , Choroid Plexus/metabolism , Choroid Plexus/physiology , Circadian Clocks/physiology , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Male , Mice, Knockout , ARNTL Transcription Factors/metabolism , ARNTL Transcription Factors/genetics
3.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) ; 15: 1414463, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38808108

ABSTRACT

This article discusses data showing that mammals, including humans, have two sources of melatonin that exhibit different functions. The best-known source of melatonin, herein referred to as Source #1, is the pineal gland. In this organ, melatonin production is circadian with maximal synthesis and release into the blood and cerebrospinal fluid occurring during the night. Of the total amount of melatonin produced in mammals, we speculate that less than 5% is synthesized by the pineal gland. The melatonin rhythm has the primary function of influencing the circadian clock at the level of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (the CSF melatonin) and the clockwork in all peripheral organs (the blood melatonin) via receptor-mediated actions. A second source of melatonin (Source # 2) is from multiple tissues throughout the body, probably being synthesized in the mitochondria of these cells. This constitutes the bulk of the melatonin produced in mammals and is concerned with metabolic regulation. This review emphasizes the action of melatonin from peripheral sources in determining re-dox homeostasis, but it has other critical metabolic effects as well. Extrapineal melatonin synthesis does not exhibit a circadian rhythm and it is not released into the blood but acts locally in its cell of origin and possibly in a paracrine matter on adjacent cells. The factors that control/influence melatonin synthesis at extrapineal sites are unknown. We propose that the concentration of melatonin in these cells is determined by the subcellular redox state and that melatonin synthesis may be inducible under stressful conditions as in plant cells.


Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Melatonin , Pineal Gland , Melatonin/metabolism , Melatonin/blood , Humans , Animals , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Pineal Gland/metabolism , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism
4.
Cell Rep ; 43(5): 114220, 2024 May 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38735047

ABSTRACT

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) encodes time of day through changes in daily firing; however, the molecular mechanisms by which the SCN times behavior are not fully understood. To identify factors that could encode day/night differences in activity, we combine patch-clamp recordings and single-cell sequencing of individual SCN neurons in mice. We identify PiT2, a phosphate transporter, as being upregulated in a population of Vip+Nms+ SCN neurons at night. Although nocturnal and typically showing a peak of activity at lights off, mice lacking PiT2 (PiT2-/-) do not reach the activity level seen in wild-type mice during the light/dark transition. PiT2 loss leads to increased SCN neuronal firing and broad changes in SCN protein phosphorylation. PiT2-/- mice display a deficit in seasonal entrainment when moving from a simulated short summer to longer winter nights. This suggests that PiT2 is responsible for timing activity and is a driver of SCN plasticity allowing seasonal entrainment.


Subject(s)
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Animals , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Mice , Neurons/metabolism , Locomotion , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism , Male , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Photoperiod , Mice, Knockout , Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter Proteins, Type III/metabolism , Sodium-Phosphate Cotransporter Proteins, Type III/genetics , Phosphate Transport Proteins/metabolism , Phosphate Transport Proteins/genetics
5.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(9)2024 Apr 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38732079

ABSTRACT

Long-term spaceflight is known to induce disruptions in circadian rhythms, which are driven by a central pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we developed a rat model that simulated microgravity and isolation environments through tail suspension and isolation (TSI). We found that the TSI environment imposed circadian disruptions to the core body temperature, heart rate, and locomotor-activity rhythms of rats, especially in the amplitude of these rhythms. In TSI model rats' SCNs, the core circadian gene NR1D1 showed higher protein but not mRNA levels along with decreased BMAL1 levels, which indicated that NR1D1 could be regulated through post-translational regulation. The autophagosome marker LC3 could directly bind to NR1D1 via the LC3-interacting region (LIR) motifs and induce the degradation of NR1D1 in a mitophagy-dependent manner. Defects in mitophagy led to the reversal of NR1D1 degradation, thereby suppressing the expression of BMAL1. Mitophagy deficiency and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction were observed in the SCN of TSI models. Urolithin A (UA), a mitophagy activator, demonstrated an ability to enhance the amplitude of core body temperature, heart rate, and locomotor-activity rhythms by prompting mitophagy induction to degrade NR1D1. Cumulatively, our results demonstrate that mitophagy exerts circadian control by regulating NR1D1 degradation, revealing mitophagy as a potential target for long-term spaceflight as well as diseases with SCN circadian disruption.


Subject(s)
ARNTL Transcription Factors , Circadian Rhythm , Mitophagy , Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group D, Member 1 , Animals , Rats , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Male , ARNTL Transcription Factors/metabolism , ARNTL Transcription Factors/genetics , Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group D, Member 1/metabolism , Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group D, Member 1/genetics , Weightlessness Simulation , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology , Microtubule-Associated Proteins/metabolism , Microtubule-Associated Proteins/genetics , Body Temperature , Heart Rate , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Proteolysis
6.
Chronobiol Int ; 41(6): 802-816, 2024 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38757583

ABSTRACT

Stable and entrainable physiological circadian rhythms are crucial for overall health and well-being. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the primary circadian pacemaker in mammals, consists of diverse neuron types that collectively generate a circadian profile of electrical activity. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of endogenous neuronal excitability in the SCN remain unclear. Two-pore domain potassium channels (K2P), including TASK-3, are known to play a significant role in maintaining SCN diurnal homeostasis by inhibiting neuronal activity at night. In this study, we investigated the role of TASK-3 in SCN circadian neuronal regulation and behavioural photoentrainment using a TASK-3 global knockout mouse model. Our findings demonstrate the importance of TASK-3 in maintaining SCN hyperpolarization during the night and establishing SCN sensitivity to glutamate. Specifically, we observed that TASK-3 knockout mice lacked diurnal variation in resting membrane potential and exhibited altered glutamate sensitivity both in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, despite these changes, the mice lacking TASK-3 were still able to maintain relatively normal circadian behaviour.


Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Mice, Knockout , Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Animals , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain/metabolism , Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain/genetics , Mice , Male , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Behavior, Animal/physiology , Glutamic Acid/metabolism , Neurons/physiology , Neurons/metabolism , Membrane Potentials/physiology , Potassium Channels
7.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(17): e2316646121, 2024 Apr 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38625943

ABSTRACT

Circadian regulation and temperature dependency are important orchestrators of molecular pathways. How the integration between these two drivers is achieved, is not understood. We monitored circadian- and temperature-dependent effects on transcription dynamics of cold-response protein RNA Binding Motif 3 (Rbm3). Temperature changes in the mammalian master circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), induced Rbm3 transcription and regulated its circadian periodicity, whereas the core clock gene Per2 was unaffected. Rbm3 induction depended on a full Brain And Muscle ARNT-Like Protein 1 (Bmal1) complement: reduced Bmal1 erased Rbm3 responses and weakened SCN circuit resilience to temperature changes. By focusing on circadian and temperature dependency, we highlight weakened transmission between core clock and downstream pathways as a potential route for reduced circadian resilience.


Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Period Circadian Proteins , Animals , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Temperature , Period Circadian Proteins/metabolism , ARNTL Transcription Factors/genetics , ARNTL Transcription Factors/metabolism , RNA/metabolism , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Mammals/genetics
8.
Peptides ; 177: 171229, 2024 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38663583

ABSTRACT

Circadian rhythms optimally regulate numerous physiological processes in an organism and synchronize them with the external environment. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the center of the circadian clock in mammals, is composed of multiple cell types that form a network that provides the basis for the remarkable stability of the circadian clock. Among the neuropeptides expressed in the SCN, arginine vasopressin (AVP) has attracted much attention because of its deep involvement in the function of circadian rhythms, as elucidated in particular by studies using genetically engineered mice. This review briefly summarizes the current knowledge on the peptidergic distribution and topographic neuronal organization in the SCN, the molecular mechanisms of the clock genes, and the relationship between the SCN and peripheral clocks. With respect to the physiological roles of AVP and AVP-expressing neurons, in addition to a sex-dependent action of AVP in the SCN, studies using AVP receptor knockout mice and mice genetically manipulated to alter the clock properties of AVP neurons are summarized here, highlighting its importance in maintaining circadian homeostasis and its potential as a target for therapeutic interventions.


Subject(s)
Arginine Vasopressin , Circadian Rhythm , Homeostasis , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Animals , Arginine Vasopressin/metabolism , Arginine Vasopressin/genetics , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology , Homeostasis/genetics , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Circadian Rhythm/genetics , Humans , Mice , Circadian Clocks/genetics , Circadian Clocks/physiology , Neurons/metabolism , Mice, Knockout , Receptors, Vasopressin/genetics , Receptors, Vasopressin/metabolism
9.
J Neurosci Res ; 102(4): e25331, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38651314

ABSTRACT

Circadian rhythms synchronize to light through the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT), which is a bundle of axons coming from melanopsin retinal ganglion cells, whose synaptic terminals release glutamate to the ventral suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Activation of AMPA-kainate and NMDA postsynaptic receptors elicits the increase in intracellular calcium required for triggering the signaling cascade that ends in phase shifts. During aging, there is a decline in the synchronization of circadian rhythms to light. With electrophysiological (whole-cell patch-clamp) and immunohistochemical assays, in this work, we studied pre- and postsynaptic properties between the RHT and ventral SCN neurons in young adult (P90-120) and old (P540-650) C57BL/6J mice. Incremental stimulation intensities (applied on the optic chiasm) induced much lesser AMPA-kainate postsynaptic responses in old animals, implying a lower recruitment of RHT fibers. Conversely, a higher proportion of old SCN neurons exhibited synaptic facilitation, and variance-mean analysis indicated an increase in the probability of release in RHT terminals. Moreover, both spontaneous and miniature postsynaptic events displayed larger amplitudes in neurons from aged mice, whereas analysis of the NMDA and AMPA-kainate components (evoked by RHT electrical stimulation) disclosed no difference between the two ages studied. Immunohistochemistry revealed a bigger size in the puncta of vGluT2, GluN2B, and GluN2A of elderly animals, and the number of immunopositive particles was increased, but that of PSD-95 was reduced. All these synaptic adaptations could be part of compensatory mechanisms in the glutamatergic signaling to ameliorate the loss of RHT terminals in old animals.


Subject(s)
Aging , Glutamic Acid , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Synaptic Transmission , Animals , Mice , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Synaptic Transmission/physiology , Aging/physiology , Glutamic Acid/metabolism , Male , Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials/physiology , Visual Pathways/physiology , Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2/metabolism , Patch-Clamp Techniques , Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate/metabolism , Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein/metabolism
10.
Front Neural Circuits ; 18: 1385908, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38590628

ABSTRACT

Animals need sleep, and the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the center of the circadian rhythm, plays an important role in determining the timing of sleep. The main input to the suprachiasmatic nucleus is the retinohypothalamic tract, with additional inputs from the intergeniculate leaflet pathway, the serotonergic afferent from the raphe, and other hypothalamic regions. Within the suprachiasmatic nucleus, two of the major subtypes are vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-positive neurons and arginine-vasopressin (AVP)-positive neurons. VIP neurons are important for light entrainment and synchronization of suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons, whereas AVP neurons are important for circadian period determination. Output targets of the suprachiasmatic nucleus include the hypothalamus (subparaventricular zone, paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, preoptic area, and medial hypothalamus), the thalamus (paraventricular thalamic nuclei), and lateral septum. The suprachiasmatic nucleus also sends information through several brain regions to the pineal gland. The olfactory bulb is thought to be able to generate a circadian rhythm without the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Some reports indicate that circadian rhythms of the olfactory bulb and olfactory cortex exist in the absence of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, but another report claims the influence of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The regulation of circadian rhythms by sensory inputs other than light stimuli, including olfaction, has not been well studied and further progress is expected.


Subject(s)
Hypothalamus , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Animals , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Hypothalamus/metabolism , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism , Sleep , Arginine Vasopressin/metabolism
11.
Physiol Behav ; 279: 114523, 2024 May 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38492912

ABSTRACT

Melatonin is a neurohormone synthesized by the pineal gland to regulate the circadian rhythms and has proven to be effective in treating drug addiction and dependence. However, the effects of melatonin to modulate the drug-seeking behavior of fentanyl and its underlying molecular mechanism is elusive. This study was designed to investigate the effects of melatonin on fentanyl - induced behavioral sensitization and circadian rhythm disorders in mice. The accompanying changes in the expression of Brain and Muscle Arnt-Like (BMAL1), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) in relevant brain regions including the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), nucleus accumbens (NAc), prefrontal cortex (PFC), and hippocampus (Hip) were investigated by western blot assays to dissect the mechanism by which melatonin modulates fentanyl - induced behavioral sensitization and circadian rhythm disorders. The present study suggest that fentanyl (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg) could induce behavioral sensitization and melatonin (30.0 mg/kg) could attenuate the behavioral sensitization and circadian rhythm disorders in mice. Fentanyl treatment reduced the expression of BMAL1 and MAO-A and increased that of TH in relevant brain regions. Furthermore, melatonin treatment could reverse the expression levels of BMAL1, MAO-A, and TH. In conclusion, our study demonstrate for the first time that melatonin has therapeutic potential for fentanyl addiction.


Subject(s)
Chronobiology Disorders , Melatonin , Mice , Animals , Melatonin/pharmacology , Melatonin/therapeutic use , Melatonin/metabolism , ARNTL Transcription Factors , Fentanyl/pharmacology , Fentanyl/therapeutic use , Fentanyl/metabolism , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Chronobiology Disorders/metabolism , Monoamine Oxidase/metabolism , Monoamine Oxidase/pharmacology
12.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 121(13): e2316841121, 2024 Mar 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38502706

ABSTRACT

We show that nocturnal aversive stimuli presented to mice while they are eating and drinking outside of their safe nest can entrain circadian behaviors, leading to a shift toward daytime activity. We also show that the canonical molecular circadian clock is necessary for fear entrainment and that an intact molecular clockwork in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the site of the central circadian pacemaker, is necessary but not sufficient to sustain fear entrainment of circadian rhythms. Our results demonstrate that entrainment of a circadian clock by cyclic fearful stimuli can lead to severely mistimed circadian behavior that persists even after the aversive stimulus is removed. Together, our findings support the interpretation that circadian and sleep symptoms associated with fear and anxiety disorders are, in part, the output of a fear-entrained clock, and provide a mechanistic insight into this clock.


Subject(s)
Circadian Clocks , Mice , Animals , Circadian Clocks/genetics , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Circadian Rhythm , Fear
13.
Cell Rep ; 43(3): 113951, 2024 Mar 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38508192

ABSTRACT

Plasticity in daily timing of activity has been observed in many species, yet the underlying mechanisms driving nocturnality and diurnality are unknown. By regulating how much wheel-running activity will be rewarded with a food pellet, we can manipulate energy balance and switch mice to be nocturnal or diurnal. Here, we present the rhythmic transcriptome of 21 tissues, including 17 brain regions, sampled every 4 h over a 24-h period from nocturnal and diurnal male CBA/CaJ mice. Rhythmic gene expression across tissues comprised different sets of genes with minimal overlap between nocturnal and diurnal mice. We show that non-clock genes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) change, and the habenula was most affected. Our results indicate that adaptive flexibility in daily timing of behavior is supported by gene expression dynamics in many tissues and brain regions, especially in the habenula, which suggests a crucial role for the observed nocturnal-diurnal switch.


Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Transcriptome , Mice , Male , Animals , Circadian Rhythm/genetics , Transcriptome/genetics , Mice, Inbred CBA , Brain , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism
14.
J Neurosci ; 44(18)2024 May 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38485259

ABSTRACT

Sleep is regulated by homeostatic sleep drive and the circadian clock. While tremendous progress has been made in elucidating the molecular components of the core circadian oscillator, the output mechanisms by which this robust oscillator generates rhythmic sleep behavior remain poorly understood. At the cellular level, growing evidence suggests that subcircuits in the master circadian pacemaker suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in mammals and in the clock network in Drosophila regulate distinct aspects of sleep. Thus, to identify novel molecules regulating the circadian timing of sleep, we conducted a large-scale screen of mouse SCN-enriched genes in Drosophila Here, we show that Tob (Transducer of ERB-B2) regulates the timing of sleep onset at night in female fruit flies. Knockdown of Tob pan-neuronally, either constitutively or conditionally, advances sleep onset at night. We show that Tob is specifically required in "evening neurons" (the LNds and the fifth s-LNv) of the clock network for proper timing of sleep onset. Tob levels cycle in a clock-dependent manner in these neurons. Silencing of these "evening" clock neurons results in an advanced sleep onset at night, similar to that seen with Tob knockdown. Finally, sharp intracellular recordings demonstrate that the amplitude and kinetics of LNd postsynaptic potentials (PSPs) cycle between day and night, and this cycling is attenuated with Tob knockdown in these cells. Our data suggest that Tob acts as a clock output molecule in a subset of clock neurons to potentiate their activity in the evening and enable the proper timing of sleep onset at night.


Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Drosophila Proteins , Drosophila , Sleep , Animals , Female , Animals, Genetically Modified , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Drosophila Proteins/genetics , Drosophila Proteins/metabolism , Neurons/physiology , Sleep/physiology , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology
15.
J Biol Rhythms ; 39(2): 135-165, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38366616

ABSTRACT

It has been 50 years since the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was first identified as the central circadian clock and 25 years since the last overview of developments in the field was published in the Journal of Biological Rhythms. Here, we explore new mechanisms and concepts that have emerged in the subsequent 25 years. Since 1997, methodological developments, such as luminescent and fluorescent reporter techniques, have revealed intricate relationships between cellular and network-level mechanisms. In particular, specific neuropeptides such as arginine vasopressin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and gastrin-releasing peptide have been identified as key players in the synchronization of cellular circadian rhythms within the SCN. The discovery of multiple oscillators governing behavioral and physiological rhythms has significantly advanced our understanding of the circadian clock. The interaction between neurons and glial cells has been found to play a crucial role in regulating these circadian rhythms within the SCN. Furthermore, the properties of the SCN network vary across ontogenetic stages. The application of cell type-specific genetic manipulations has revealed components of the functional input-output system of the SCN and their correlation with physiological functions. This review concludes with the high-risk effort of identifying open questions and challenges that lie ahead.


Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Neuropeptides , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Neuropeptides/metabolism , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology , Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism , Gastrin-Releasing Peptide/metabolism
16.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(3)2024 Feb 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38339119

ABSTRACT

Prostaglandins are bioactive compounds, and the activation of their receptors affects the expression of clock genes. However, the prostaglandin F receptor (Ptgfr) has no known relationship with biological rhythms. Here, we first measured the locomotor period lengths of Ptgfr-KO (B6.129-Ptgfrtm1Sna) mice and found that they were longer under constant dark conditions (DD) than those of wild-type (C57BL/6J) mice. We then investigated the clock gene patterns within the suprachiasmatic nucleus in Ptgfr-KO mice under DD and observed a decrease in the expression of the clock gene cryptochrome 1 (Cry1), which is related to the circadian cycle. Moreover, the expression of Cry1, Cry2, and Period2 (Per2) mRNA were significantly altered in the mouse liver in Ptgfr-KO mice under DD. In the wild-type mouse, the plasma prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) levels showed a circadian rhythm under a 12 h cycle of light-dark conditions. In addition, in vitro experiments showed that the addition of PTGFR agonists altered the amplitude of Per2::luc activity, and this alteration differed with the timing of the agonist addition. These results lead us to hypothesize that the plasma rhythm of PGF2α is important for driving clock genes, thus suggesting the involvement of PGF2α- and Ptgfr-targeting drugs in the biological clock cycle.


Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Dinoprost , Mice , Animals , Dinoprost/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Circadian Rhythm/genetics , Biological Clocks , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/metabolism , Gene Expression , Cryptochromes/genetics , Cryptochromes/metabolism
17.
Cephalalgia ; 44(2): 3331024231209317, 2024 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38415635

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in neuroimaging and electrophysiology, cluster headache's pathogenesis remains unclear. This review will examine clinical neurophysiology studies, including electrophysiological and functional neuroimaging, to determine if they might help us construct a neurophysiological model of cluster headache. RESULTS: Clinical, biochemical, and electrophysiological research have implicated the trigeminal-parasympathetic system in cluster headache pain generation, although the order in which these two systems are activated, which may be somewhat independent, is unknown. Electrophysiology and neuroimaging have found one or more central factors that may cause seasonal and circadian attacks. The well-known posterior hypothalamus, with its primary circadian pacemaker suprachiasmatic nucleus, the brainstem monoaminergic systems, the midbrain, with an emphasis on the dopaminergic system, especially when cluster headache is chronic, and the descending pain control systems appear to be involved. Functional connection investigations have verified electrophysiological evidence of functional changes in distant brain regions connecting to wide cerebral networks other than pain. CONCLUSION: We propose that under the impact of external time, an inherited misalignment between the primary circadian pacemaker suprachiasmatic nucleus and other secondary extra- suprachiasmatic nucleus clocks may promote disturbance of the body's internal physiological clock, lowering the threshold for bout recurrence.


Subject(s)
Cluster Headache , Humans , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Pain , Brain , Brain Stem
18.
Eur J Neurosci ; 59(7): 1723-1742, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38326974

ABSTRACT

The circadian clock orchestrates many physiological and behavioural rhythms in mammals with 24-h periodicity, through a hierarchical organisation, with the central clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus. The circuits of the SCN generate circadian rhythms with precision, relying on intrinsic coupling mechanisms, for example, neurotransmitters like arginine vasopressin (AVP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuronal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signalling and astrocytes connected by gap junctions composed of connexins (Cx). In female rodents, the presence of estrogen receptors (ERs) in the dorsal SCN suggests an influence of estrogen (E2) on the circuit timekeeping that could regulate circadian rhythm and coupling. To investigate this, we used SCN explants together with hypothalamic neurons and astrocytes. First, we showed that E2 stabilised the circadian amplitude in the SCN when rAVPs (receptor-associated vasopressin peptides) were inhibited. However, the phase delay induced by VIPAC2 (VIP receptors) inhibition remained unaffected by E2. We then showed that E2 exerted its effects in the SCN via ERß (estrogen receptor beta), resulting in increased expression of Cx36 and Cx43. Notably, specific inhibition of both connexins resulted in a significant reduction in circadian amplitude within the SCN. Remarkably, E2 restored the period with inhibited Cx36 but not with Cx43 inhibition. This implies that the network between astrocytes and neurons, responsible for coupling in the SCN, can be reinforced through E2. In conclusion, these findings provide new insights into how E2 regulates circadian rhythms ex vivo in an ERß-dependent manner, underscoring its crucial role in fortifying the SCN's rhythm.


Subject(s)
Connexin 43 , Estrogen Receptor beta , Animals , Female , Connexin 43/metabolism , Estrogen Receptor beta/metabolism , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Gap Junctions/metabolism , Connexins/metabolism , Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/pharmacology , Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/metabolism , Estrogens/pharmacology , Mammals/metabolism
19.
J Neurosci ; 44(8)2024 Feb 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38238074

ABSTRACT

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the central clock for circadian rhythms. Animal studies have revealed daily rhythms in the neuronal activity in the SCN. However, the circadian activity of the human SCN has remained elusive. In this study, to reveal the diurnal variation of the SCN activity in humans, we localized the SCN by employing an areal boundary mapping technique to resting-state functional images and investigated the SCN activity using perfusion imaging. In the first experiment (n = 27, including both sexes), we scanned each participant four times a day, every 6 h. Higher activity was observed at noon, while lower activity was recorded in the early morning. In the second experiment (n = 20, including both sexes), the SCN activity was measured every 30 min for 6 h from midnight to dawn. The results showed that the SCN activity gradually decreased and was not associated with the electroencephalography. Furthermore, the SCN activity was compatible with the rodent SCN activity after switching off the lights. These results suggest that the diurnal variation of the human SCN follows the zeitgeber cycles of nocturnal and diurnal mammals and is modulated by physical lights rather than the local time.


Subject(s)
Circadian Rhythm , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Male , Animals , Female , Humans , Circadian Rhythm/physiology , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus/physiology , Rodentia , Mammals , Neurons
20.
Mol Neurodegener ; 19(1): 4, 2024 Jan 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38195580

ABSTRACT

Tauopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases that includes Alzheimer's disease, commonly lead to disturbances in sleep-wake patterns and circadian rhythm disorders. The circadian rhythm, a recurring 24-hour cycle governing human biological activity, is regulated by the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and endogenous transcriptional-translational feedback loops. Surprisingly, little attention has been given to investigating tauopathy-driven neuropathology in the SCN and the repercussions of SCN and circadian gene dysfunction in the human brain affected by tauopathies. This review aims to provide an overview of the current literature on the vulnerability of the SCN in tauopathies in humans. Emphasis is placed on elucidating the neuronal and glial changes contributing to the widespread disruption of the molecular circadian clock. Furthermore, this review identifies areas of knowledge requiring further investigation.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Tauopathies , Animals , Humans , Neuroglia , Suprachiasmatic Nucleus , Models, Animal
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