Authors: Ruiter, Marieke; Buijs, Ruud M.; Kalsbeek, Andries

Source: Current Diabetes Reviews, Volume 2, Number 2, May 2006 , pp. 213-226(14)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Glucose is one of the most important energy sources for the body in general, and the brain in particular. It is essential for survival to keep glucose levels within strict boundaries. Acute disturbances of glucose homeostasis are rapidly corrected by hormonal and neuronal mechanisms. Furthermore, changes in energy expenditure associated with the light-dark cycle induce variations in the plasma glucose concentration that are more gradual. Organisms take advantage of adapting their internal physiology to the predictable daily changes in energy expenditure, because it enables them to anticipate these changes and to prevent unnecessary disturbance of homeostasis. The hypothalamic biological clock, located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), receives light information from the eyes and transmits this information to the rest of the body to synchronize physiology to the environment. Here we review several studies providing evidence for biological clock control of the daily variation in several aspects of glucose metabolism. Although both hormones and the autonomic nervous system can stimulate glucose uptake or production by organs in the periphery, we have shown that the biological clock control of glucose metabolism mostly occurs through the autonomic nervous system. The critical involvement of the biological clock is also indicated by several studies, indicating that disturbance of the biological clock is often associated with metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Keywords: Circadian; Rhythms; Metabolism; Autonomic Nervous System; Hypothalamus; Liver

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157339906776818596

Affiliations: 1: Dept. of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology and Physiology (VCAPP), Washington State University, 205 Wegner Hall, Pullman, WA 99163, USA.

Publication date: 2006-05-01

More about this publication?

• Current Diabetes Reviews publishes frontier reviews on all the latest advances on diabetes and its related areas e.g. pharmacology, pathogenesis, complications, epidemiology, clinical care, and therapy.
  
  The journal's aim is to publish the highest quality review articles dedicated to clinical research in the field. The journal is essential reading for all researchers and clinicians who are involved in the field of diabetes.

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