Integrated Entrainment of the Suprachiasmatic Clock by the Two Neurotransmitters of the Retinohypothalamic Tract, Glutamate and PACAP

The functional interaction between PACAP and Glu was then investigated. PACAP blocked the phase advance normally induced by Glu at late night, while anti-PACAP reagents augmented the Glu-induced phase advance in the SCN slice as well as the light-induced phase advance in vivo. In the early night, PACAP enhanced Glu-induced delay while PACAP antagonists inhibited it. Anti-PACAP reagents also decreased the basal level of cAMP suggesting a tonic release of PACAP. Thus, through the interplay of an amino acid neurotransmitter and a large peptide neurotransmitter, the RHT signals fine-tune the phase of the SCN clock to the surrounding light/dark cycle. This finding provides insight as to how monotonic sensory signal is transformed into a modulated, adaptive behavioral response.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Molecular and Integrative Physiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Dong, Chen

Contributors dc:contributor

• Gillette, Martha U.

• Biology, Molecular

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9944816

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/87267