Mechanisms of Communication in the Mammalian Circadian Timing System
24-hour rhythms in physiology and behaviour are organized by a body-wide network of endogenous circadian clocks. In mammals, a central pacemaker in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) integrates external light information to adapt cellular clocks in all tissues and organs to the external...
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doaj-4c6abb26ce324b0aadbdf9f4362087b42020-11-25T00:45:58ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1422-00672019-01-0120234310.3390/ijms20020343ijms20020343Mechanisms of Communication in the Mammalian Circadian Timing SystemMariana Astiz0Isabel Heyde1Henrik Oster2Institute of Neurobiology, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Marie-Curie-Straße, 23562 Lübeck, GermanyInstitute of Neurobiology, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Marie-Curie-Straße, 23562 Lübeck, GermanyInstitute of Neurobiology, Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Marie-Curie-Straße, 23562 Lübeck, Germany24-hour rhythms in physiology and behaviour are organized by a body-wide network of endogenous circadian clocks. In mammals, a central pacemaker in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) integrates external light information to adapt cellular clocks in all tissues and organs to the external light-dark cycle. Together, central and peripheral clocks co-regulate physiological rhythms and functions. In this review, we outline the current knowledge about the routes of communication between the environment, the main pacemakers and the downstream clocks in the body, focusing on what we currently know and what we still need to understand about the communication mechanisms by which centrally and peripherally controlled timing signals coordinate physiological functions and behaviour. We highlight recent findings that shed new light on the internal organization and function of the SCN and neuroendocrine mechanisms mediating clock-to-clock coupling. These findings have implications for our understanding of circadian network entrainment and for potential manipulations of the circadian clock system in therapeutic settings.http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/2/343circadian clocksperipheral clockssuprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)entrainmentresettingzeitgeber |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mariana Astiz Isabel Heyde Henrik Oster |
spellingShingle |
Mariana Astiz Isabel Heyde Henrik Oster Mechanisms of Communication in the Mammalian Circadian Timing System International Journal of Molecular Sciences circadian clocks peripheral clocks suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) entrainment resetting zeitgeber |
author_facet |
Mariana Astiz Isabel Heyde Henrik Oster |
author_sort |
Mariana Astiz |
title |
Mechanisms of Communication in the Mammalian Circadian Timing System |
title_short |
Mechanisms of Communication in the Mammalian Circadian Timing System |
title_full |
Mechanisms of Communication in the Mammalian Circadian Timing System |
title_fullStr |
Mechanisms of Communication in the Mammalian Circadian Timing System |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mechanisms of Communication in the Mammalian Circadian Timing System |
title_sort |
mechanisms of communication in the mammalian circadian timing system |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
issn |
1422-0067 |
publishDate |
2019-01-01 |
description |
24-hour rhythms in physiology and behaviour are organized by a body-wide network of endogenous circadian clocks. In mammals, a central pacemaker in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) integrates external light information to adapt cellular clocks in all tissues and organs to the external light-dark cycle. Together, central and peripheral clocks co-regulate physiological rhythms and functions. In this review, we outline the current knowledge about the routes of communication between the environment, the main pacemakers and the downstream clocks in the body, focusing on what we currently know and what we still need to understand about the communication mechanisms by which centrally and peripherally controlled timing signals coordinate physiological functions and behaviour. We highlight recent findings that shed new light on the internal organization and function of the SCN and neuroendocrine mechanisms mediating clock-to-clock coupling. These findings have implications for our understanding of circadian network entrainment and for potential manipulations of the circadian clock system in therapeutic settings. |
topic |
circadian clocks peripheral clocks suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) entrainment resetting zeitgeber |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/20/2/343 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT marianaastiz mechanismsofcommunicationinthemammaliancircadiantimingsystem AT isabelheyde mechanismsofcommunicationinthemammaliancircadiantimingsystem AT henrikoster mechanismsofcommunicationinthemammaliancircadiantimingsystem |
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