Redox and Antioxidant Modulation of Circadian Rhythms: Effects of Nitroxyl, N-Acetylcysteine and Glutathione

The circadian clock at the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) entrains output rhythms to 24-h light cycles. To entrain by phase-advances, light signaling at the end of subjective night (circadian time 18, CT18) requires free radical nitric oxide (NO•) binding to soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) heme group, activating the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase (PKG). Phase-delays at CT14 seem to be independent of NO•, whose redox-related species were yet to be investigated. Here, the one-electron reduction of NO• nitroxyl was pharmacologically delivered by Angeli's salt (AS) donor to assess its modulation on phase-resetting of locomotor rhythms in hamsters. Intracerebroventricular AS generated nitroxyl at the SCN, promoting phase-delays at CT14, but potentiated light-induced phase-advances at CT18. Glutathione/glutathione disulfide (GSH/GSSG) couple measured in SCN homogenates showed higher values at CT14 (i.e., more reduced) than at CT18 (oxidized). In addition, administration of antioxidants N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and GSH induced delays per se at CT14 but did not affect light-induced advances at CT18. Thus, the relative of NO• nitroxyl generates phase-delays in a reductive SCN environment, while an oxidative favors photic-advances. These data suggest that circadian phase-locking mechanisms should include redox SCN environment, generating relatives of NO•, as well as coupling with the molecular oscillator.