Otro
Serotonin and circadian rhythms
Registro en:
Psychology & Neuroscience. Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio de JaneiroUniversidade de Brasília (UnB)Universidade de São Paulo, v. 3, n. 2, p. 217-228, 2010.
1983-3288
10.3922/j.psns.2010.2.011
S1983-32882010000200011
S1983-32882010000200011.pdf
Autor
Pontes, André Luiz Bezerra de
Engelberth, Rovena Clara Galvão Januário
Nascimento Júnior, Expedito da Silva
Cavalcante, Judney Cley
Costa, Miriam Stela Maris de Oliveira
Pinato, Luciana
Toledo, Claudio Antonio Barbosa de
Cavalcante, Jeferson de Souza
Resumen
All mammal behaviors and functions exhibit synchronization with environmental rhythms. This is accomplished through an internal mechanism that generates and modulates biological rhythms. The circadian timing system, responsible for this process, is formed by connected neural structures. Pathways receive and transmit environmental cues to the central oscillator, the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus, which mediates physiological and behavioral alterations. The suprachiasmatic nucleus has three major inputs: the retinohypothalamic tract (a direct projection from the retina), the geniculohypothalamic tract (an indirect photic projection originating in the intergeniculate leaflet), and a dense serotonergic plexus from the raphe nuclei. The serotonergic pathway, a source of non-photic cues to the suprachiasmatic nucleus, modulates its activity. The importance of raphe nuclei in circadian rhythms, especially in photic responses, has been demonstrated in many studies. Serotonin is the raphe neurotransmitter that triggers phase shifts, inhibits light-induced phase-shifts, and plays a role in controlling the sleep-wake cycle. All data to date have demonstrated the importance of the raphe, through serotonergic afferents, in adjusting circadian rhythms and must therefore be considered a component of the circadian timing system. The aim of this paper is to review the literature addressing the involvement of serotonin in the modulation of circadian rhythm. Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)