GLAUCOMA ALTERS MOLECULAR CLOCK MACHINERY IN THE CENTRAL BIOLOGICAL CLOCK AND THE RHYTHM OF LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY

Glaucomatous patients show compromised biological rhythm, such as sleep disturbances and altered temperature circadian rhythm. However, the molecular mechanism underlying it still to be demonstrated. Glaucoma is characterized by retinal ganglion cells degeneration, which forms the main projection to brain areas, including central biological clock (suprachiasmatic nucleus, SCN). The SCN is composed of the ventrolateral (VL-SCN) and dorsomedial area (DM-SCN) that express VIP and AVP neurotransmitters, respectively. Environmental light reaches VL-SCN area increasing the expression of Per1 and Per2. These genes reset the molecular clock leading to the synchronization of SCN.