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Melanopsin in cells of origin of the retinohypothalamic tract
Light-sensitive pigment in the cells that send signals from the eye to the brain's timing center
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Abstract
Most retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that project to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) express the photopigment melanopsin.
- Circadian rhythms in eukaryotic organisms operate on a near-24-hour cycle, influenced primarily by light.
- The retinohypothalamic tract (RHT) transmits light information to the SCN, which is critical for generating these rhythms.
- Identifying the specific retinal photopigment responsible for circadian entrainment has been a challenge.
- Melanopsin expression in RGCs may play a key role in mediating the effects of light on circadian rhythms.
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