Pharmacological probes of the mammalian circadian clock: use of the phase response curve approach

A useful approach to examine whether or not a specific pharmacological agent can influence a arcadian clock is to determine if the acute administration of the drug can induce a permanent phase shift of rhythm driven by the clock under constant environmental conditions. As Fred Turek describes in this review, recent studies utilizing this approach indicate a role for acetylcholine, NPY, GABA and protein synthesis in the entrainment and/or generation of arcadian rhythms in mammals. In addition to providing insight into the neurochemical and molecular events underlying circadian rhythmicity, pharmacological probes of the circadian system might prove useful in identifying drugs which can be utilized in the treatment of various physical and mental illnesses that have been associated with a disorder in circadian time-keeping. © 1987.SCOPUS: re.j