title: Impaired light masking in dopamine D2 receptor-null mice.
abstract: Disruption of overt circadian rhythms can occur without influencing the endogenous pacemaker, the so-called 'masking' effect classically elicited by light. As the physiological pathways involved in light masking remain elusive, we analyzed mice lacking the dopamine D2 receptor. Although circadian rhythmicity was normal, D2R-null mice showed a markedly deficient light masking response, indicating that D2R-mediated signaling is an essential component of the neuronal pathways leading to light masking of circadian rhythms.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 1 rue Laurent Fries 67404, Illkirch, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yujnovsky
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirayama
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malerba
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tirotta
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sassone-Corsi
authors.forename: Emiliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Borrelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047068:Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000201:enzymology / Q000528:radiation effects; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D047068:Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase; D008550:Melatonin; D004298:Dopamine