Serotonin depletion decreases light induced c-fos in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus

Authors
Moyer, RW Kennaway, DJ
Citation
Rw. Moyer et Dj. Kennaway, Serotonin depletion decreases light induced c-fos in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus, NEUROREPORT, 11(5), 2000, pp. 1021-1024
Citations number
25
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
NEUROREPORT
ISSN journal
09594965 → ACNP
Volume
11
Issue
5
Year of publication
2000
Pages
1021 - 1024
Database
ISI
SICI code
0959-4965(20000407)11:5<1021:SDDLIC>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the locus of the biological clock in m ammals. Daily light cycles entrain the endogenous circadian rhythms in mamm als through direct and indirect neural pathways from the retinae to the sup rachiasmatic nucleus. We have studied the effect of serotonin depletion on the photic induction of the early response gene c-fos in the SCN of rats. S erotonin depletion, verified by immunohistochemistry, produced a significan t decrease (42%) in the number of c-FOS positive cells in the ventrolateral portion of the SCN. These results support the involvement of serotonin as a mediator of photic information to the SCN through the retinal projection to the dorsal raphe nucleus. NeuroReport 11:1021-1024 (C) 2000 Lippincott W illiams & Wilkins.