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A team of researchers at the Brain Research Center of the Medical University of Vienna has discovered a specific population of cells in the brain responsible for changes
in the rhythm of sleep-wake caused by psychostimulants.
The molecularly defined cell population in the hypothalamus constitutes the control point that regulates the circadian rhythm of the brain and controls the action of
psychostimulants through its activity.
Through this neural mechanism, psychostimulants can lead to increased alertness and activity, even during rest and sleep in circadian
rhythms.
Circadian rhythm is the ability of
an animal to synchronize its physiological processes in about 24 hours.
This includes the sleep-wake rhythm
as a central regulator.
The center that controls this brain function is located in the hypothalamus
.
People with irregular sleep-wake cycles, whether due to nocturnal activity or jet lag, often use psychostimulants to compensate for changes in circadian rhythms and correct their sleep rhythms
.
The research team, led by Tibor Harkany and Roman Romanov of the Department of Molecular Neuroscience at the Brain Research Center of the Medical University of Vienna, has now been able to identify a molecularly defined population of cells (Th+/Dat1+) in the hypothalamus responsible for diurnal changes
in activity patterns triggered by psychostimulants.
It is well known that some people with chronically disturbed daily rhythms, such as pilots, use psychostimulants amphetamines in order to stay awake and active
even during physiologically scheduled rest periods.
New research by Tibor Harkany and Roman Romanov's team is now testing and describing this effect
on mouse models.
To this end, chemogenetic, optogenetic, and behavioral approaches are used to identify groups
of cells in the hypothalamus that respond directly to stimulants.
The team further revealed the functional circuitry
these cells embedded within.
They were able to identify the lateral septum, the area of the brain that regulates autonomous processes and controls movement, as another important brain region involved in amphetamine-induced regulatory processes
.
"We can define a new area of the brain, the lateral septum, which participates in circadian rhythms through the activity of dopamine receptors, where psychostimulants can exert their stimulating effects
.
If the receptors there are inhibited or stimulated, it directly affects the activity of the organism," explains Roman Romanov
"Our new findings about circadian rhythm regulation patterns provide a starting point for new research into the functional effects of psychostimulants," adds Tibor Harkany, "With the recognition of lateral septal receptors, we open up new possibilities
for developing new treatments to treat diseases associated with hyperactivity or shifts in circadian activity patterns.
"
Hypothalamic dopamine sites where psychostimulants induce hyperexercise in mice