Diurnal differences in dopamine transporter and tyrosine hydroxylase levels in rat brain: dependence on the suprachiasmatic nucleus
Abstract
Time of day can influence cocaine-seeking behavior in rats, and this influence may depend on the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). We used western blots to measure expression of dopamine transporter (DAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) proteins in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), nucleus accumbens (NAc), and caudate in sham and SCN-lesioned (SCNx) rats at ZT4 (Zeitgeber time 4, 4 h after lights-on) or ZT20 (8 h after lights-off). In the mPFC, DAT levels were lower at ZT20 than at ZT4 in sham but not SCNx rats. In the NAc, DAT expression was higher at ZT20 than at ZT4, and this effect was blunted in SCNx rats. Caudate DAT levels were unaffected by time of day or SCNx. Levels of TH did not change in mPFC with time of day or SCN lesion; TH levels were higher at ZT20 in the NAc, with a trend towards higher levels at this time in SCNx rats. Caudate TH expression was slightly elevated at ZT20 in sham but not in SCNx rats. We conclude that DAT and TH within these brain regions exhibit diurnal variation and dependence on the SCN. The results may have implications for new strategies to maximize pharmacological treatments for drug addiction.
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Neural systems associated with affect, such as limbic brain regions, monoamine neurotransmitters, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, are all under circadian regulation.
“Notably, neural systems associated with affect, such as the limbic brain regions, monoamine neurotransmitters, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA), are all under circadian regulation27–31.”
From Circadian rhythm disruption and mental health (2020) · cites this paper as [30]
Rhythmic dopaminergic activity can be controlled by the circadian clock and, in turn, might also regulate the activity of the clock itself.
“Indeed, rhythmic dopaminergic activity can be controlled by the circadian clock and, in turn, might also regulate the activity of the clock itself (Mendoza and Challet, 2014, Sleipness et al., 2007).”
From Circadian dysregulation in Parkinson's disease (2017) · cites this paper as Sleipness et al., 2007
Changes in dopamine content could be directly related to rhythms in its synthesizing enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase) and transporters (DAT), whose activity exhibits temporal changes in basal ganglia and cortical structures.
“Changes in dopamine content could be directly related to rhythms in its synthesizing enzymes (tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)) and transporters (DAT), whose activity exhibit temporal changes both in basal ganglia and cortical structures (Sleipness et al., 2007).”
From Circadian dysregulation in Parkinson's disease (2017) · cites this paper as Sleipness et al., 2007
Functional arrhythmocity induced by bright constant light or SCN lesions disrupted dopamine and TH rhythms and reward-related behaviors such as interval timing.
“Moreover, functional arrhythmocity induced by bright constant light (Bussi et al., 2014) or SCN lesions (Sleipness et al., 2007) disrupted dopamine and TH rhythms and reward-related behaviors such as interval timing.”
From Circadian dysregulation in Parkinson's disease (2017) · cites this paper as Sleipness et al., 2007
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References 58 · Cited by 160
- Authors
- Sleipness, E. P., Sorg, B. A., & Jansen, H. T.
- Affiliations
- Washington State University (US)
- Venue
- Brain Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-01
- Volume
- 1129
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 34-42
- ISSN
- 0006-8993 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2033799348
- Cited by
- 160
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.15
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Brain Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Washington State University
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- dopamine transporter, tyrosine hydroxylase, suprachiasmatic nucleus, circadian rhythm, diurnal variation, cocaine-seeking behavior, cocaine dependence, medial prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus, SCN lesions, protein expression
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Caudate Nucleus, Circadian Rhythm, Cocaine, Denervation, Dopamine, Light, Male, Neural Pathways, Nucleus Accumbens, Photic Stimulation, Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Time Factors, Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Prefrontal Cortex, Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors, Cocaine-Related Disorders, Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins, Rats
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