title: Circadian rhythms and sleep--the metabolic connection.
abstract: The circadian system coordinates mammalian physiology and behavior with the environmental light-dark cycle. It allocates sleep to the inactivity phase using various mechanisms involving neurotransmitters, nuclear receptors, and protein kinases. These pathways are related to metabolism, indicating that the circadian system and sleep are connected via metabolic parameters. This suggests that organs other than the brain may "sleep." A hypothetic view on this aspect is presented providing a different perspective on sleep regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Unit of Biochemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 5, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland. urs.albrecht@unifr.ch
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Albrecht
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008660:Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*