A mechanism of mania and the chemistry of dreams: a hypothesis.
A suggested cause of mania is asynchrony of two biologic clocks that are involved with the sleep-waking mechanism. Increased norepinephrine in the synaptic clefts of the locus ceruleus could quicken the pace of one clock. That same increase in norepinephrine is a possible inducer of euphoria and hyperactivity in mania. The action of melatonin and/or vasotocin on the dorsal raphe nucleus may induce the hallucinatory behavior in mania. Lithium corrects the psychosis by inhibiting adenylate cyclase and slowing the circadian rhythm.
D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000187:drug effects; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004325:Dreams / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000502:physiology; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000502:physiology; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000502:physiology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D014668:Vasotocin / Q000502:physiology
D008094:Lithium; D008550:Melatonin; D014668:Vasotocin; D009638:Norepinephrine