A mathematical model for the mammalian melatonin rhythm

C.j Thompson, Y.s Yang and A.w Wood

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2001, vol. 296, issue 1, 293-306

Abstract: We propose and analyse a model for the mammalian melatonin rhythm consisting of first order equations describing the underlying biochemical reactions and pathways. The model includes activation through the secondary messenger system and end product inhibition of activator molecules through cooperative binding of melatonin to the light sensitive suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The model has robust free-running limit-cycle solutions for a range of parameter values. Assuming light sensitivity of parameters describing the binding of melatonin to the SCN we show that the limit-cycle solutions become entrained to the imposed day/night cycle when the period of the cycle is not too far from the free-running period. Higher order cycles and “irregular” behaviour results when the period of the day/night cycle is above or below certain thresholds relative to the free-running period.

Date: 2001
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378437101001546
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only. Journal offers the option of making the article available online on Science direct for a fee of $3,000

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:296:y:2001:i:1:p:293-306

DOI: 10.1016/S0378-4371(01)00154-6

Access Statistics for this article

Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications is currently edited by K. A. Dawson, J. O. Indekeu, H.E. Stanley and C. Tsallis

More articles in Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().