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Circadian Clocks pp 105–123Cite as

The Clock in the Brain: Neurons, Glia, and Networks in Daily Rhythms

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Part of the book series: Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology ((HEP,volume 217))

Abstract

The master coordinator of daily schedules in mammals, located in the ventral hypothalamus, is the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). This relatively small population of neurons and glia generates circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior and synchronizes them to local time. Recent advances have begun to define the roles of specific cells and signals (e.g., peptides, amino acids, and purine derivatives) within this network that generate and synchronize daily rhythms. Here we focus on the best-studied signals between neurons and between glia in the mammalian circadian system with an emphasis on time-of-day pharmacology. Where possible, we highlight how commonly used drugs affect the circadian system.

All authors contributed equally.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Emily Slat, G. Mark Freeman Jr. & Erik D. Herzog

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  1. Emily Slat
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  2. G. Mark Freeman Jr.
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  3. Erik D. Herzog
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Correspondence to Emily Slat , G. Mark Freeman Jr. or Erik D. Herzog .

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  1. , Laboratory of Chronobiology, Charité Universiätsmedizin Berlin, Hessische Str. 3-4, Berlin, 10115, Germany

    Achim Kramer

  2. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Institute of Medical Psychology, Goethestrasse 31/ I, München, 80336, Germany

    Martha Merrow

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Slat, E., Freeman, G.M., Herzog, E.D. (2013). The Clock in the Brain: Neurons, Glia, and Networks in Daily Rhythms. In: Kramer, A., Merrow, M. (eds) Circadian Clocks. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, vol 217. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-25950-0_5

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