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Extracellular nitric oxide signaling in the hamster biological clock
Author(s) -
Plano Santiago A.,
Agostino Patricia V.,
Golombek Diego A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2007.10.058
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , nitric oxide , extracellular , suprachiasmatic nucleus , hamster , microbiology and biotechnology , circadian clock , chemistry , intracellular , mesocricetus , endocrinology , biophysics , biology , medicine
Nocturnal light pulses induce phase shifts in circadian rhythms and activate cFos expression in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). We have studied the role of nitric oxide (NO) in the intercellular communication within the dorsal and ventral portions of the SCN in Syrian hamsters. Administration of the NO scavenger 2‐phenyl‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethylimidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide blocked photic phase advances in a dose‐dependent manner and inhibited light‐induced cFos‐ir, without affecting light‐induced circadian phase delays. These results suggest that NO may act as an intercellular messenger in the SCN, mediating light‐induced phase advances.