The suprachiasmatic nuclei contain a tetrodotoxin-resistant circadian pacemaker

Tetrodotoxin was infused into the suprachiasmatic nuclei of unanesthetized and unrestrained rats continuously for 14 days. The internal timekeeping mechanism of the circadian pacemaker in the nuclei continued to oscillate unaffected by this treatment, although the toxin reversibly blocked function o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 1987-03, Vol.84 (6), p.1694-1698
Main Authors: Schwartz, W.J, Gross, R.A, Morton, M.T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Action potentials
Action Potentials - drug effects
Animals
Behavioral neuroscience
Biological and medical sciences
BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS
BRAIN
Catheterization
Cell Communication - drug effects
Cell physiology
CEREBRO
Chronometry
Circadian rhythm
Circadian Rhythm - drug effects
Darkness
Drinking
Drug Resistance
ENCEPHALE
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Lesions
Light
Male
MAMIFEROS
MAMMALS
MAMMIFERE
Molecular and cellular biology
Neurobiology
Neurotransmission
Pumps
RAT
RATA
RATS
Rats, Inbred Strains
RITMOS BIOLOGICOS
RYTHME BIOLOGIQUE
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus - drug effects
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus - physiology
Tetrodotoxin - pharmacology
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Description
Summary:Tetrodotoxin was infused into the suprachiasmatic nuclei of unanesthetized and unrestrained rats continuously for 14 days. The internal timekeeping mechanism of the circadian pacemaker in the nuclei continued to oscillate unaffected by this treatment, although the toxin reversibly blocked function of both the input pathway for pacemaker entrainment and an output pathway for expression of the circadian drinking rhythm. Thus, Na+-dependent action potentials appear necessary for entrainment and expression of overt circadian rhythms, but they do not seem necessary for the pacemaker to keep accurate time. The experimental approach presented in this paper is useful because it allows systematic assessment and distinction of the input, pacemaker, and output components of a mammalian circadian timekeeping system in vivo.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.84.6.1694