Suprachiasmatic region of the human hypothalamus: homolog to the primate circadian pacemaker?
The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus in mammals, including nonhuman primates, contain a key pacemaker of the circadian timing system. Examination of the histology of the anterior hypothalamus in human fetal, child, and adult brains indicates that there is a cluster of neurons which may be homologous to SCN. These neurons are more diffusely organized and laterally placed in human brains than is the SCN of nonhuman primates.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D012453:Saimiri; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*