Molecular and Brain Processes That Keep the Body’s Internal Clock Stable

Mice lacking V1a and V1b receptors showed rapid re-entrainment of circadian rhythms under jet lag conditions.

• The endogenous circadian clock regulates physiological and behavioral oscillations with a cycle of about 24 hours.
• Jet lag results from a misalignment between the body clock and external time, leading to sleep disturbances and gastrointestinal issues.
• Genes highly expressed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the master clock of mammals, were identified as key to understanding jet lag mechanisms.
• Interneuronal communication through V1a and V1b receptors may provide the SCN with resistance to external disruptions.
• Blocking V1a and V1b receptors in wild-type mice sped up recovery from jet lag symptoms, indicating a possible target for treatment.

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