Université de Fribourg

The opioid fentanyl affects light input, electrical activity and Per gene expression in the hamster suprachiasmatic nuclei

Vansteensel, Mariska J. ; Magnone, Maria Chiara ; Oosterhout, Floor van ; Baeriswyl, Stéphanie ; Albrecht, Urs ; Albus, Henk ; Dahan, Albert ; Meijer, Johanna H.

In: European Journal of Neuroscience, 2005, vol. 21(11), p. 2958

The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) contain a major circadian pacemaker, which is regulated by photic and nonphotic stimuli. Although enkephalins are present in the SCN, their role in phase regulation of the pacemaker is largely unknown. The opioid agonist fentanyl, a homologue of morphine, is an addictive drug that induces phase shifts of circadian rhythms in hamsters. We observed that these phase...