VIP Lights up the Master Cock (IMAGE)

Washington University in St. Louis

VIP Lights up the Master Cock

Caption

In this image of the master clock in the mouse brain, the nuclei of the clock cells are blue and VIP, a molecule that allows the neurons in the clock to synchronize, is fluorescent green. New work shows that, at high doses, VIP desynchronizes the cells, allowing them to adjust rapidly to changes in the daily schedule. This may help relieve the malaise felt by many shift workers and by travelers who cross time zones.

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Cristina Mazuski

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