The suprachiasmatic nuclei as a seasonal clock
- PMID: 25451984
- DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2014.11.002
The suprachiasmatic nuclei as a seasonal clock
Abstract
In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) contains a central clock that synchronizes daily (i.e., 24-h) rhythms in physiology and behavior. SCN neurons are cell-autonomous oscillators that act synchronously to produce a coherent circadian rhythm. In addition, the SCN helps regulate seasonal rhythmicity. Photic information is perceived by the SCN and transmitted to the pineal gland, where it regulates melatonin production. Within the SCN, adaptations to changing photoperiod are reflected in changes in neurotransmitters and clock gene expression, resulting in waveform changes in rhythmic electrical activity, a major output of the SCN. Efferent pathways regulate the seasonal timing of breeding and hibernation. In humans, seasonal physiology and behavioral rhythms are also present, and the human SCN has seasonally rhythmic neurotransmitter levels and morphology. In summary, the SCN perceives and encodes changes in day length and drives seasonal changes in downstream pathways and structures in order to adapt to the changing seasons.
Keywords: Circadian; Melatonin; Network; Photoperiod; Plasticity; Rhythmicity; Seasonal physiology; Synchronization.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Similar articles
-
Daily and seasonal adaptation of the circadian clock requires plasticity of the SCN neuronal network.Eur J Neurosci. 2010 Dec;32(12):2143-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07522.x. Eur J Neurosci. 2010. PMID: 21143668 Review.
-
Seasonal molecular timekeeping within the rat circadian clock.Physiol Res. 2004;53 Suppl 1:S167-76. Physiol Res. 2004. PMID: 15119947 Review.
-
Melatonin: both master clock output and internal time-giver in the circadian clocks network.J Physiol Paris. 2011 Dec;105(4-6):170-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jphysparis.2011.07.001. Epub 2011 Jul 19. J Physiol Paris. 2011. PMID: 21914478 Review.
-
Processing of daily and seasonal light information in the mammalian circadian clock.Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2007 Jun-Jul;152(2-3):159-64. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2007.01.018. Epub 2007 Jan 25. Gen Comp Endocrinol. 2007. PMID: 17324426 Review.
-
Photoperiod differentially regulates circadian oscillators in central and peripheral tissues of the Syrian hamster.Curr Biol. 2003 Sep 2;13(17):1543-8. doi: 10.1016/s0960-9822(03)00619-5. Curr Biol. 2003. PMID: 12956958
Cited by
-
A theoretical study on seasonality.Front Neurol. 2015 May 7;6:94. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2015.00094. eCollection 2015. Front Neurol. 2015. PMID: 25999912 Free PMC article.
-
From clock to functional pacemaker.Eur J Neurosci. 2020 Jan;51(1):482-493. doi: 10.1111/ejn.14388. Epub 2019 May 2. Eur J Neurosci. 2020. PMID: 30793396 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Useful Effects of Melatonin in Peripheral Nerve Injury and Development of the Nervous System.J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj. 2017 Feb 16;12(1):e1-e6. doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1597838. eCollection 2017 Jan. J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj. 2017. PMID: 28603548 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Flexible clock systems: adjusting the temporal programme.Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2017 Nov 19;372(1734):20160254. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0254. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2017. PMID: 28993498 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Differential localization of PER1 and PER2 in the brain master circadian clock.Eur J Neurosci. 2017 Jun;45(11):1357-1367. doi: 10.1111/ejn.13441. Epub 2016 Nov 8. Eur J Neurosci. 2017. PMID: 27740710 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
