Neuropeptide Y-induced phase shifts of PER2:LUC rhythms are mediated by long-term suppression of neuronal excitability in a phase-specific manner

摘要

Endogenous circadian rhythms are entrained to the 24-h light/dark cycle by both light and nonphotic stimuli. During the day, nonphotic stimuli, such as novel wheel-induced exercise, produce large phase advances. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) release from the thalamus onto suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons at least partially mediates this nonphotic signal. The authors examined the hypothesis that NPY-induced phase advances are accompanied by suppression of PER2 and are mediated by long-term depression of neuronal excitability in a phase-specific manner. First, it was found that NPY-induced phase advances in PER2:LUC SCN cultures are largest when NPY (2.35 M) is given in the early part of the day (circadian time [CT] 06). In addition, PER2:LUC levels in NPY-treated (compared to vehicle-treated) samples were suppressed beginning 67h after treatment. Similar NPY application to organotypic Per1:GFP SCN cultures resulted in long-term suppression of spike rate of green fluorescent proteinpositive (GFP+) cells when slices were treated with NPY during the early or middle of the day (zeitgeber time [ZT] 2 or 6), but not during the late day (ZT 10). Furthermore, 1-h bath application of NPY to acute SCN brain slices decreased general neuronal activity measured through extracellular recordings. Finally, NPY-induced phase advances of PER2:LUC rhythms were blocked by latent depolarization with 34.5mM K ~+ 3h after NPY application. These results suggest that NPY-induced phase advances may be mediated by long-term depression of neuronal excitability. This model is consistent with findings in other brain regions that NPY-induced persistent hyperpolarization underlies mechanisms of energy homeostasis, anxiety-related behavior, and thalamocortical synchronous firing.