Journal
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
Volume 218, Issue 10, Pages 1521-1526Publisher
COMPANY BIOLOGISTS LTD
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.111864
Keywords
OPN3; Circadian rhythm; Signal transmitter; Hypothalamus; Cerebellum
Categories
Funding
- Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District
- Valkee Oy
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Encephalopsin (OPN3) belongs to the light-sensitive transmembrane receptor family mainly expressed in the brain and retina. It is believed that light affects mammalian circadian rhythmicity only through the retinohypothalamic tract, which transmits light information to the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the hypothalamus. However, it has been shown that light penetrates the skull. Here, we present the effect of transcranial light treatment on OPN3 expression and monoamine concentrations in mouse brain and other tissues. Mice were randomly assigned to control group, morning-light group and evening-light group, and animals were illuminated transcranially five times a week for 8 min for a total of 4 weeks. The concentrations of OPN3 and monoamines were analysed using western blotting and HPLC, respectively. We report that transcranial light treatment affects OPN3 expression in different brain areas and plasma/adrenal gland monoamine concentrations. In addition, when light was administered at a different time of the day, the response varied in different tissues. These results provide new information on the effects of light on transmitters mediating mammalian rhythmicity.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available