Nimodipine potentiates light-induced phase shifts of circadian activity rhythms but not c-fos expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of mice

Susan Benloucif*, Monica I. Masana, Phyllis C. Zee, Margarita L. Dubocovich

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study assessed whether treatment with the L-type calcium channel antagonist nimodipine affects the responsiveness of the circadian pacemaker to light in C3H/HeN mice. Nimodipine (10 mg/kg, sc) increased the magnitude of light-induced phase delays (P<0.01) and c-fos mRNA expression in the paraventricular nuclei (P<0.01), but not in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). These results suggest that nimodipine may affect phase shifts of circadian activity rhythms through a mechanism independent of c-fos expression in the SCN.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)157-161
Number of pages5
JournalBrain research
Volume966
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 14 2003

Funding

Keywords

  • Calcium
  • Calcium antagonist
  • Immediate early gene
  • Phase delay

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology

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