Circadian rhythm generation in the cultured suprachiasmatic nucleus

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is involved in the generation and entrainment of circadian rhythms. The results of a series of experiments in long-term cultured organotypic SCN slices suggest that (1) some but not all SCN neurons display circadian rhythmicity in their extracell...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain research bulletin 1995, Vol.38 (3), p.275-283
Main Authors: Mirmiran, M., Koster-Van Hoffen, G.C., Bos, N.P.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Biological clock
Biological Clocks
Cells, Cultured
Central nervous system
Central neurotransmission. Neuromudulation. Pathways and receptors
Circadian Rhythm - physiology
Circadian rhythms
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hypothalamus - physiology
Network
Neuronal discharges
Neurons - physiology
pacemaker
Potassium - pharmacology
Rats
Rats, Inbred Strains
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus - physiology
Time Factors
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
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Summary:The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is involved in the generation and entrainment of circadian rhythms. The results of a series of experiments in long-term cultured organotypic SCN slices suggest that (1) some but not all SCN neurons display circadian rhythmicity in their extracelluar discharges. To the extent they could be studied, these neurons did not usually show synchronized high/low levels of activity, (2) simultaneous daily depolarization of these neurons (K + pulses) to some extent influenced the distribution of the firing rate of SCN neurons around the time of expected daily pulses; (3) extracelluar Ca ++ and synaptic input is required for the pacemaker activity of the SCN. We conclude that the mammalian biological clock is a heterogeneous neuronal system in which the circadian pacemaker rhythm is generated and entrained via complex interactions among SCN neurons.
ISSN:0361-9230
1873-2747
DOI:10.1016/0361-9230(95)00100-S