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

所有生物系统，包括人类的生物系统，都受到环境变化，特别是日光量变化的影响。在动物身上，外部的光和暗的节奏与大脑中被称为视交叉上核（scn -通常被称为生物钟）的一小部分相互作用，后者有自己的自我维持的节奏。SCN反过来协调松果体分泌褪黑激素的节奏、体温、睡眠时间和其他激素的分泌。这项研究的目的是扩展我们对光、神经相互交流的化学信使、生物钟和身体功能节奏之间相互关系的认识。我们将专注于一种叫做血清素的特殊化学信使，我们认为它在保持昼夜节律与自然周期同步方面起着重要作用。研究结果有望有助于理解某些睡眠时间障碍是如何产生的，并为如何治疗这些障碍提供一些见解。

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.