QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, March 24, 2004, 24(12):2983-2988; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5044-03.2004

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (20) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tousson, E. Articles by Meissl, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tousson, E. Articles by Meissl, H.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Suprachiasmatic Nuclei Grafts Restore the Circadian Rhythm in the Paraventricular Nucleus of the Hypothalamus

Ehab Tousson and Hilmar Meissl

Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, 60528 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

The mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) controls the circadian rhythm of many physiological and behavioral events by an orchestrated output of the electrical activity of SCN neurons. We examined the propagation of output signals from the SCN into the hypothalamus, especially into the region of the paraventricular nucleus, through multimicroelectrode recordings using acute and organotypic brain slices. Circadian rhythms in spontaneous firing rate with a period close to 24 hr were demonstrated in the SCN, in directly adjacent hypothalamic regions, and in the region of the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, an important center for the integration of neuroendocrine, homeostatic, and autonomic functions. The activity rhythms recorded from structures outside of the SCN were in phase with the rhythms in the SCN. Cyclic information in the hypothalamus was lost after ablation of the SCN but could be restored by SCN grafts, indicating that a humoral factor is responsible for the restoration of circadian rhythmicity in the absence of neural connections. Periodic application of arginine–vasopressin (AVP) provided evidence that AVP can induce rhythmicity in the hypothalamus. These data indicate that the SCN uses a dual (neuronal and humoral) mechanism for communication with its targets in the brain.

Key words: suprachiasmatic nucleus; paraventricular nucleus; hypothalamus; circadian rhythms; multimicroelectrode recordings; vasopressin

---

Received Nov 13, 2003; revised December 23, 2003; accepted January 22, 2004.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T.-L. To, M. A. Henson, E. D. Herzog, and F. J. Doyle III A Molecular Model for Intercellular Synchronization in the Mammalian Circadian Clock Biophys. J., June 1, 2007; 92(11): 3792 - 3803. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Kalsbeek, I. F. Palm, S. E. La Fleur, F. A. J. L. Scheer, S. Perreau-Lenz, M. Ruiter, F. Kreier, C. Cailotto, and R. M. Buijs SCN Outputs and the Hypothalamic Balance of Life. J Biol Rhythms, December 1, 2006; 21(6): 458 - 469. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Y.-H. Wu, D. F. Fischer, A. Kalsbeek, M.-L. Garidou-Boof, J. van der Vliet, C. van Heijningen, R.-Y. Liu, J.-N. Zhou, and D. F. Swaab Pineal clock gene oscillation is disturbed in Alzheimer's disease, due to functional disconnection from the "master clock" FASEB J, September 1, 2006; 20(11): 1874 - 1876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. M. Prolo, J. S. Takahashi, and E. D. Herzog Circadian Rhythm Generation and Entrainment in Astrocytes J. Neurosci., January 12, 2005; 25(2): 404 - 408. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. H. Hastings and E. D. Herzog Clock Genes, Oscillators, and Cellular Networks in the Suprachiasmatic Nuclei J Biol Rhythms, October 1, 2004; 19(5): 400 - 413. [Abstract] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help