These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: A phase-response curve to the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide and the effect of geniculo-hypothalamic tract ablation.
    Author: Meyer EL, Harrington ME, Rahmani T.
    Journal: Physiol Behav; 1993 Feb; 53(2):237-43. PubMed ID: 8383344.
    Abstract:
    The geniculo-hypothalamic tract (GHT) provides input to the mammalian circadian pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Several recent reports indicate that GHT ablation blocks phase shifts to the benzodiazepines triazolam and chlordiazepoxide at circadian times (CTs) 6 and 21. In this study we tested if GHT ablation blocks phase shifts to chlordiazepoxide at a wide range of circadian phases. Syrian hamsters were housed under constant dim light, and running-wheel activity rhythms were monitored. Intraperitoneal injections of either chlordiazepoxide (100 mg/kg) or saline were administered at various circadian times, and a phase-response curve was constructed. In intact animals, chlordiazepoxide produced phase-advance shifts at CTs 0, 4, 6, and 8, and phase-delay shifts between CTs 12-14. Although bursts of increased activity were sometimes observed on the day of injection, activity does not appear to mediate chlordiazepoxide-induced phase shifts. Hamsters with > 45% GHT ablation showed no phase shifts > 20 min to chlordiazepoxide. Our results indicate that the geniculo-hypothalamic tract is necessary for the phase-shifting effects of the benzodiazepine chlordiazepoxide throughout the circadian cycle.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]