Seasonality and role of SCN in entrainment of lizard circadian rhythms to daily melatonin injections

1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (4) ◽  
pp. R1004-R1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiano Bertolucci ◽  
Augusto Foà
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Locomotor Behavior ◽  
Suprachiasmatic Nuclei ◽  
Primary Target ◽  
Podarcis Sicula ◽  
Injection Period ◽  
Target Sites ◽  
Locomotor Rhythms ◽  
First Time

To establish whether the capability of daily melatonin injections to entrain circadian rhythms varies with season, we examined in constant conditions the locomotor behavior of lizards Podarcis sicula collected and subjected to daily melatonin injections at different times of the year. Although in summer locomotor rhythms of both pineal-intact and pinealectomized lizards became entrained to the 24-h injection period, in the other seasons their rhythms did not entrain to the injection period. To establish whether the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) mediate summer entrainment of locomotor rhythms to melatonin, we examined the behavioral effects of daily melatonin injections in lizards subjected to either bilateral (SCN-X) or unilateral (USCN-X) ablation of the SCN. SCN-X lizards became behaviorally arrhythmic, and daily melatonin injections did not restore rhythmicity. USCN-X lizards remained rhythmic, and their locomotor rhythms did entrain to the injections. Besides demonstrating for the first time in a vertebrate that daily melatonin injections are capable of entraining circadian rhythmicity in only one season (summer), the present results support the view that the SCN (and not the pineal gland) are the primary target sites of melatonin in the circadian system of P. sicula.

Role of suprachiasmatic nuclei in circadian and light-entrained behavioral rhythms of lizards

2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (6) ◽  
pp. R2121-R2131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiano Bertolucci ◽  
Valeria Anna Sovrano ◽  
Maria Chiara Magnone ◽  
Augusto Foà
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Constant Temperature ◽  
Locomotor Behavior ◽  
Functional Similarity ◽  
Daily Rhythm ◽  
Constant Darkness ◽  
Suprachiasmatic Nuclei ◽  
Podarcis Sicula ◽  
Behavioral Rhythms

To establish whether the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the Ruin lizard ( Podarcis sicula) play a role in entrainment of circadian rhythms to light, we examined the effects of exposure to 24-h light-dark (LD) cycles on the locomotor behavior of lizards with SCN lesions. Lizards became arrhythmic in response to complete SCN lesion under constant temperature and constant darkness (DD), and they remained arrhythmic after exposure to LD cycles. Remnants of SCN tissue in other lesioned lizards were sufficient to warrant entrainment to LD cycles. Hence, the SCN of Ruin lizards are essential both to maintain locomotor rhythmicity and to mediate entrainment of these rhythms to light. We also asked whether light causes expression of Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-LI) in the SCN. Under LD cycles, the SCN express a daily rhythm in Fos-LI. Because Fos-LI is undetectable in DD, the rhythm seen in LD cycles is caused by light. We further showed that unilateral SCN lesions in DD induce dramatic period changes. Altogether, the present data support the existence of a strong functional similarity between the SCN of lizards and the SCN of mammals.

scholarly journals SIRT7 is a deacetylase of N4-acetylcytidine on ribosomal RNA

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenzhong Xu ◽  
Jin Zhang ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Baohua Liu
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Ribosomal Rna ◽  
Genome Stability ◽  
Rna Stability ◽  
Translation Efficiency ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
First Time ◽  
Protein Deacetylase

AbstractN-acetyltransferase 10 catalyzes RNA N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) modifications and thus regulates RNA stability and translation efficiency. However, the deacetylase for ac4C is unknown. SIRT7 was initially identified as an NAD+-dependent protein deacetylase and plays essential roles in genome stability, circadian rhythms, metabolism, and aging. In this study, we identified SIRT7 as a deacetylase of the ac4C of ribosomal (r)RNA for the first time and found it to be NAD+-independent. Our data highlight the important role of SIRT7 in rRNA ac4C modification and suggest an additional epitranscriptional regulation of aging.

scholarly journals Seasonal variations of pineal involvement in the circadian organization of the ruin lizard Podarcis sicula

1996 ◽  
Vol 199 (5) ◽  
pp. 1189-1194
Author(s):  
A Innocenti ◽  
C Bertolucci ◽  
L Minutini ◽  
A Foà
Keyword(s):  
Pineal Gland ◽  
Seasonal Variations ◽  
Circadian Activity ◽  
Activity Time ◽  
Podarcis Sicula ◽  
Locomotor Behaviour ◽  
Circadian Organization ◽  
Locomotor Rhythms ◽  
Autumn And Winter ◽  
First Time

To establish whether the effects of pinealectomy on circadian locomotor rhythmicity vary with season, we examined, in constant temperature and darkness, the locomotor behaviour of ruin lizards Podarcis sicula collected and subjected to pinealectomy at different times of the year. Changes in the freerunning period in response to pinealectomy were found to be significantly greater in summer than in winter, spring and autumn. Circadian activity time changed significantly in response to pinealectomy only in spring and summer. Furthermore, while pinealectomy was effective in altering the locomotor rhythms of all individual lizards tested in summer, the same surgery was found to leave locomotor rhythmicity of many lizards tested in autumn and winter completely undisturbed. These results demonstrate for the first time in a non-mammalian vertebrate that the pineal gland is centrally involved in determining circadian organization in some seasons and is only marginally involved in others.

Serotoninergic system and circadian rhythms of ACTH and corticosterone in rats

1980 ◽  
Vol 239 (6) ◽  
pp. E482-E489 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Szafarczyk ◽  
G. Alonso ◽  
G. Ixart ◽  
F. Malaval ◽  
J. Nouguier-Soule ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Activity Rhythm ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Serotoninergic System ◽  
Suprachiasmatic Nuclei ◽  
Circadian Control ◽  
Midbrain Raphe Nuclei ◽  
Phase Activity

The circadian rhythms of plasma ACTH and corticosterone and of locomotor activity were explored in chronically cannulated female rats, after elimination of serotoninergic (5HT) innervation of the SCN (suprachiasmatic nuclei) either by stereotaxic lesion of the median and dorsal midbrain raphe nuclei (RX) or by local injection of SCN with the neurotoxin 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7DHT). Completeness of 5HT denervation was checked on serial sections of the hypothalamus either by the Falk-Hillarp technique or by radioautography. Neither lesion eliminated the intrahypothalamic 5HT system, which, however does not take part in the 5HT innervation of the SCN. In both experimental series, the circadian rhythms of the three parameters investigated were maintained in unchanged phase relationships compared to the sham-lesioned controls, and with respect to the photoperiod (12 light-12 dark). However, the estimated amplitudes of the ACTH rhythms dropped by 43% (RX) to 47% (5,7DHT) and their mean levels by 44% (RX) to 60% (5,7DHT), whereas the corticosterone rhythm displayed normal amplitude and its mean level rose by 24% (RX) or 38% (5,7DHT). In regard to locomotor activity rhythm, the most noticeable alteration was a 25–55% increase in the light-phase activity of both experimental groups with a correlative increase in the L/D activity ratio. The essential role of 5HT innervation of the SCN therefore seems to be to facilitate circadian control of the ACTH rhythm.

Psychological Resilience Provides No Independent Protection From Suicidal Risk

Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica W. Y. Liu ◽  
A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt ◽  
Richard Burns ◽  
Rachel M. Roberts ◽  
Kaarin J. Anstey
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Psychological Resilience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Life Project ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
First Time

Abstract. Background: Little is known about the role of resilience in the likelihood of suicidal ideation (SI) over time. Aims: We examined the association between resilience and SI in a young-adult cohort over 4 years. Our objectives were to determine whether resilience was associated with SI at follow-up or, conversely, whether SI was associated with lowered resilience at follow-up. Method: Participants were selected from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project from Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, aged 28–32 years at the first time point and 32–36 at the second. Multinomial, linear, and binary regression analyses explored the association between resilience and SI over two time points. Models were adjusted for suicidality risk factors. Results: While unadjusted analyses identified associations between resilience and SI, these effects were fully explained by the inclusion of other suicidality risk factors. Conclusion: Despite strong cross-sectional associations, resilience and SI appear to be unrelated in a longitudinal context, once risk/resilience factors are controlled for. As independent indicators of psychological well-being, suicidality and resilience are essential if current status is to be captured. However, the addition of other factors (e.g., support, mastery) makes this association tenuous. Consequently, resilience per se may not be protective of SI.

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