Localization of Zinc in the Circadian System and its Role in the Modulation of Circadian Responses to Light
Abstract
Zinc is found in multiple brain areas where it can act as a neuromodulator of postsynaptic receptors. There is evidence for the existence of zinc in the SCN as well as its vesicle transporter (ZnT3) in the retina. However, its presence in other circadian areas has not been examined. This study observed the anatomical distribution of zinc in the SCN and IGL as well as ZnT3 in the retinal ganglion cells that project to these areas. The role of zinc in photic entrainment was also examined. The IGL contained considerable amounts of zinc while ZnT3 was present in retinal cells that are able to project to the IGL. Nevertheless zinc in the IGL was not implicated in the photic entrainment pathway and the retina was shown not to be a necessary zinc input source. Together, these results present the first report of zinc in the IGL and circadian retinal projections.
Description
Keywords
Education--Sciences, Animal Physiology, Neuroscience
Citation
Moshirpour, M. (2017). Localization of Zinc in the Circadian System and its Role in the Modulation of Circadian Responses to Light (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26778