Neurobiology of Circadian Rhythms

哺乳动物下丘脑的视交叉上核是 生物钟的解剖学基础， 生理和行为上许多明显的节奏。 机制 负责产生昼夜节律的 视交叉上核是未知的。 然而，众所周知， 产生动作电位的能力并不是 生物钟的工作原理 其他形式的 细胞间通讯必须调节昼夜节律 一代 努涅斯博士将研究 视交叉上核神经元和胶质细胞之间的相互作用 核心是关键。 利用电子显微镜，他将确定 神经胶质细胞形态的可塑性是否超过昼夜节律 周期对神经元间通信的影响，因此， 视交叉上核神经输出的昼夜节律性 原子核 生物计时的概念与 体内平衡作为现代生物学的组织原则。 了解基本的神经机制可能会导致治疗 这可以帮助解决时差，轮班工作， 老年人的睡眠障碍事实上，就昼夜节律而言， 节奏研究最终将对几乎所有的人产生影响， 人类奋进的领域分布在季节和阶段 这项工作可能会对国家的发展产生直接影响。 科学和工程研究、教育和人力资源 基地

The mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus is the anatomical substrate for a circadian biological clock that controls many overt rhythms in physiology and behavior. The mechanism(s) responsible for the generation of circadian rhythmicity by the suprachiasmatic nucleus is (are) unknown. It is known, however, that the ability to generate action potentials is not necessary for the workings of the circadian clock. Therefore, other forms of intercellular communications must mediate circadian-rhythm generation. Dr. Nunez will examine the possibility that the interaction between neurons and glial cells of the suprachiasmatic nucleus is critical. Using electronmicroscopy, he will determine whether plasticity in glial cell morphology over the circadian cycle impacts on inter-neuronal communications and, thus, impose circadian rhythmicity on the neural outputs of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. The concept of biological timing rivals that of homeostasis as an organizing principle in contemporary biology. Understanding the basic neural mechanisms may lead to treatments that could help solve problems caused by jet lag, shift work and sleep disorders in the elderly. Indeed, in so far as circadian rhythm studies will ultimately have an impact on virtually all areas of human endeavor distributed across the seasons and phases of the day, this work may have a direct effect on the nation's scientific and engineering research, education and human resources bases.