ANIMAL MODEL FOR DIURNAL CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS--O DEGUS

描述(改编自申请者的摘要)：各种环境 生命的变化改变了人类的昼夜节律，在某些个体中 导致生理和心理问题。夹带中的变化 昼夜节律，由于性别和时型，以及节律问题 中断很可能是由于敏感度或 对娱乐性光和非光环境线索的反应， 比如光/暗循环和社会互动。 研究了昼夜节律系统中的光/暗循环。 在许多层次的分析中，特别是在夜间活动的啮齿动物中。相比之下， 已经确定了一些非光刺激，它们改变了携带或 自由奔跑的昼夜节律，但我们对这些节律的了解有限 刺激到达昼夜节律系统是因为大多数非光刺激 复杂，并使用多种感官系统。更好地了解如何 与昼夜节律系统相互作用的非光刺激将得到最好的发展 具有只与一个感官系统相结合的时代潮流。 奥克登·德格斯是探索 昼夜节律系统的非光性夹带剂及其测定 这些相互作用的神经基础。迪格斯是一种高度社会化的， 白天活动的啮齿动物，表现出与人类相似的节律，这是 被光和社会互动所缠绕。 这项提议要检验的假设集中在 Degus能够携带昼夜节律。目标1.确定是否 传递到主嗅觉系统的嗅觉线索足以 携带昼夜节律系统。实验将检查空气中的气味 提示可以取代社交互动，加速重新夹带 跟随相移，并在恒定条件下一相接一相地缠绕动物 前进和拖延。目标2：勾勒出 神经回路将气味信号传输到昼夜节律系统。 实验将使用轨迹跟踪、选择性病变和FOS 免疫组织化学方法确定神经功能解剖学参与的 通过嗅觉/社会刺激来娱乐昼夜节律。 成功完成拟议的研究将产生第一个 非光刺激相互作用的详细行为/神经解剖学模型 Zeitgeber和生物钟。这项与迪格斯的合作最终将 使研究人员能够分析光和光之间的相互作用 在昼夜节律的控制中的非光诱导线索， 社会性哺乳动物，具有许多与人类相似的特性，并可能导致 昼夜节律紊乱的非光性治疗。

DESCRIPTION (adapted from applicant's abstract): A variety of environmental and life changes alter human circadian rhythms, and in some individuals cause physiological and psychological problems. Variation in entrained circadian rhythms, due to sex and chronotype, and problems of rhythm disruptions are likely the result of differences in sensitivity or responsiveness to entertaining photic and non-photic environmental cues, such as the light/dark cycle and social interactions. Entrainment of the circadian system by the light/dark cycle has been studied at many levels of analysis particularly in nocturnal rodents. In contrast, a number of non-photic stimuli have been identified that alter entrained or free-running circadian rhythms, but we have only a limited idea of how these stimuli reach the circadian system because most non-photic stimuli are complex and employ multiple sensory systems. A better understanding of how non-photic stimuli interact with the circadian system will best be developed with a zeitgeber that engages only one sensory system. Octodon degus serve as an ideal model for exploration of the interaction of non-photic entrainers of the circadian system and determination of the neural underpinnings of those interactions. Degus are a highly social, diurnal rodents, displaying rhythms similar to those of humans , which are entrained by light and social interactions. Hypotheses to be tested by this proposal focus on how social interactions of degus are able to entrain circadian rhythms. Aim 1. Determine whether olfactory cues delivered to the main olfactory system are sufficient to entrain circadian system. Experiments will examine whether airborne odor cues can replace social interactions for accelerated re-entrainment following phase shifts and entrain animals in constant conditions by phase advances and delays. Aim 2: Delineate the critical components of the neural circuitry transmitting odor cues to the circadian system. Experiments will use tract tracing, selective lesions and Fos immunohistochemistry to determine the functional neuroanatomy involved in the entertainment of circadian rhythms by olfactory/social stimuli. Successful completion of the proposed research will produce the first detailed behavioral/neuroanatomical model of the interaction of non-photic zeitgeber and the circadian clock. This work with degus will eventually allow the investigators to analyze the interactions between photic and non-photic entraining cues in the control of circadian rhythms in a diurnal, social mammal with many properties similar to humans, and may lead to non-photic treatments for circadian disruptions.