In mammals many behaviours (e.g. sleep–wake, feeding) as well as physiological (e.g. body temperature, blood pressure) and endocrine (e.g. plasma corticosterone concentration) events display a 24 h rhythmicity. These 24 h rhythms are induced by a timing system that is composed of central and peripheral clocks. The highly co-ordinated output of the hypothalamic biological clock not only controls the daily rhythm in sleep–wake (or feeding–fasting) behaviour, but also exerts a direct control over many aspects of hormone release and energy metabolism. First, we present the anatomical connections used by the mammalian biological clock to enforce its endogenous rhythmicity on the rest of the body, especially the neuro-endocrine and energy homoeostatic systems. Subsequently, we review a number of physiological experiments investigating the functional significance of this neuro-anatomical substrate. Together, this overview of experimental data reveals a highly specialized organization of connections between the hypothalamic pacemaker and neuro-endocrine system as well as the pre-sympathetic and pre-parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system.
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June 2011
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Review Article|
June 30 2011
Mammalian clock output mechanisms
Andries Kalsbeek
;
Andries Kalsbeek
1
*Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
†Hypothalamic Integration Mechanisms, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (a.kalsbeek@amc.uva.nl).
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Chun-Xia Yi
;
Chun-Xia Yi
*Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
†Hypothalamic Integration Mechanisms, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Cathy Cailotto
;
Cathy Cailotto
‡Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Susanne E. la Fleur
;
Susanne E. la Fleur
*Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Eric Fliers
;
Eric Fliers
*Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Ruud M Buijs
Ruud M Buijs
§Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico), Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, DF 04510, Mexico
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Essays Biochem (2011) 49: 137–151.
Citation
Hugh D. Piggins, Clare Guilding, Andries Kalsbeek, Chun-Xia Yi, Cathy Cailotto, Susanne E. la Fleur, Eric Fliers, Ruud M Buijs; Mammalian clock output mechanisms. Essays Biochem 30 June 2011; 49 137–151. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bse0490137
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