Phase shifting endocrine and sleep/activity rhythms with light and serotonergic drugs

所有的生物系统，包括人类的生物系统，都会受到环境变化的影响，特别是日照时间的变化。在动物中，光和暗的外部节律与大脑中称为视交叉上核(SCN-通常被称为生物钟)的一小部分相互作用，该核团有自己持续的节律。SCN反过来协调松果体分泌褪黑激素的节律、体温、睡眠时间和其他激素的分泌。这项研究的目的是扩大我们对光、神经用来相互交流的化学信使、身体功能中的生物钟和节律之间的相互关系的了解。我们将集中讨论一种名为5-羟色胺的特殊化学信使，我们认为它在保持节律与自然昼夜周期同步方面发挥着重要作用。这一结果有望有助于理解某些睡眠计时障碍是如何发生的，并为如何治疗提供一些见解。

All biological systems, including those of humans, are influenced by changes in the environment, especially by variations in the amount of daylight. In animals the external rhythm of light and darkness interacts with a small part of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN-often called the biological clock) which has its own self sustained rhythms. The SCN in turn orchestrates rhythms in the secretion of the hormone melatonin from the pineal gland, body temperature, the timing of sleep and the secretion of other hormones. The aim of this study is to extend our knowledge of the inter-relationships between light, the chemical messengers that nerves use to communicate with each other, the biological clock and rhythms in body functions. We will concentrate on one particular chemical messenger called serotonin which we believe plays an important role in keeping rhythms in synchrony with the natural day-night cycle. The results are expected to be of benefit in understanding how certain sleep timing disorders arise and provide some insight into how they might be treated.