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Nerve growth factor‐induced circadian phase shifts and MAP kinase activation in the hamster suprachiasmatic nuclei
Author(s) -
Pizzio Gastón A.,
Hainich Ernesto C.,
Plano Santiago A.,
Ralph Martin R.,
Golombek Diego A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04247.x
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , suprachiasmatic nucleus , endocrinology , light effects on circadian rhythm , medicine , circadian clock , neurochemical , mapk/erk pathway , nerve growth factor , biology , glutamate receptor , neuroscience , hamster , immediate early gene , kinase , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , biochemistry , gene
Circadian rhythms are entrained by light and by several neurochemical stimuli. In hamsters housed in constant darkness, i.c.v. administration of nerve growth factor (NGF) at various times in their circadian cycle produced phase shifts of locomotor activity rhythms that were similar in direction and circadian timing to those produced by brief pulses of light. Moreover, the effect of NGF and light were not additive, indicating signalling points in common. These points include the immediate‐early gene c‐fos and ERK1/2, a component of the mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) family. NGF activates c‐FOS and ERK1/2‐MAPK in the suprachiasmatic nuclei, the site of a circadian clock in mammals, when administered during the subjective night but not during the day. The effect of NGF on ERK1/2 activation was not inhibited by the administration of MK‐801, a glutamate/NMDA receptor antagonist. These results suggest that NGF, acting through MAPK activation, plays a role in photic entrainment of the mammalian circadian clock.