title: Serotonergic potentiation of photic phase shifts of the circadian activity rhythm.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests that serotonin may function to regulate the sensitivity of the circadian clock to the resetting effect of environmental light. Here we report that systemic administration of NAN-190, a drug that acts at both postsynaptic and somatodendritic serotonin receptors, potentiates light-induced phase shifts by as much as 250%. The effects of the drug are dose-related and are significant at light intensities between 0.2 and 200 lux. It is proposed that drugs with pharmacological properties similar to NAN-190 may prove useful as chronobiologics to adjust the sensitivity of the circadian system to natural 'zeitgebers'.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; C058895:1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4-(4-(2-phthalimido)butyl)piperazine; D012701:Serotonin