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Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
Published on: November 11, 2016
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Dynamic encoding of temperature in the central circadian circuit coordinates physiological activities
Hailiang Li1,2,3, Zhiyi Li1,2,3, Xin Yuan1,2,3
1Department of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Nature Communications
|April 2, 2024
Summary
Fruit flies
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Chronobiology
- Animal Physiology
Background:
- The circadian clock governs daily physiological rhythms in animals.
- Understanding how temperature influences these rhythms is crucial but not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how temperature variations affect the Drosophila central circadian circuit.
- To identify temperature-sensing neurons within this circuit and their downstream targets.
Main Methods:
- In-vivo two-photon imaging with precise temperature control.
- Trans-synaptic tracing and connectome analysis.
- Functional imaging and behavioral assays in Drosophila.
Main Results:
- Dorsal neuron 1s (DN1as) were identified as highly sensitive temperature-sensing neurons.
- The circadian clock modulates the diurnal temperature response of DN1as.
- DN1as connect to activity-related E cells and sleep-promoting DN3 neurons, influencing locomotion and sleep.
Conclusions:
- The DN1a-E cell circuit regulates evening activity in response to cold.
- The DN1a-DN3 circuit controls sleep reduction during warm temperatures.
- The central circadian circuit integrates temperature and light to manage daily activity and sleep patterns.
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