Neurobiology of Mammalian Photoperiodism

哺乳动物光周期现象的神经生物学

• 批准号: 8908576
• 负责人: Antonio Nunez
• 金额: $ 12.41万
• 依托单位: Michigan State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 1989
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1989-08-15 至 1992-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=8908576&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Neurobiology; Mammalian; Photoperiodism

Light affects daily (circadian) and seasonal cycles in physiology and behavior. Dr. Nunez will examine the neural and endocrine systems that mediate these effects of light on these biological rhythms. The suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus is believed to be the neural substrate for the biological clock. Therefore, Dr. Nunez will concentrate on identifying the outputs of the nucleus to determine how circadian signals reach the rest of the central nervous system. Both the circadian system and the suprachiasmatic nucleus are involved in the generation of seasonal reproductive cycles but the projection or output from this neural structure involved in seasonal cycles appears to be different than the projections responsible for daily cycles. It appears that seasonal cycles may also involve the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. Dr. Nunez will also investigate the pathways that originate in this brain structure. In addition, he will elucidate the endocrine changes that are produced by neural damage that abolishes seasonal cyclicity. Information about the anatomy and physiology of this biological clock provides the basic science for a more comprehensive understanding of certain psychiatric disorders at the extreme and fluctuations in mood and productivity in the more normal range. An additional value of knowledge of controls of photoperiodism may lie in an increased efficiency in animal husbandry.

光影响生理和行为的日常（昼夜节律）和季节周期。 努涅斯博士将检查调节光对这些生物节律的影响的神经和内分泌系统。 下丘脑的视交叉上核被认为是生物钟的神经基质。 因此，努涅斯博士将集中精力识别细胞核的输出，以确定昼夜节律信号如何到达中枢神经系统的其余部分。 昼夜节律系统和视交叉上核都参与季节性生殖周期的产生，但参与季节性周期的神经结构的预测或输出似乎与负责日常周期的预测不同。 季节周期似乎也可能涉及下丘脑的室旁核。 努涅斯博士还将研究起源于这种大脑结构的通路。 此外，他还将阐明因消除季节性周期性的神经损伤而产生的内分泌变化。 有关生物钟的解剖学和生理学信息为更全面地了解某些极端精神疾病以及更正常范围内的情绪和生产力波动提供了基础科学。 光周期控制知识的另一个价值可能在于提高畜牧业的效率。