title: In vivo metabolic activity of a putative circadian oscillator, the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus.
abstract: The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) has been proposed as a site for an endogenous circadian oscillator in mammals, since lesions of the nucleus abolish a wide spectrum of overt-circadian rhythms. To demonstrate that a directly measurable property of the SCN itself in intact (unlesioned) animals is affected by environmental light and exhibits circadian rhythmicity, we used the autoradiographic 2-deoxy-D-[14C]glucose method to determine glucose utilization of rat SCN under a variety of lighting conditions. Our experiments indicate an important role for the SCN in circadian rhythm organization, and we believe the deoxyglucose method will prove useful as a tool for better understanding the functions and mechanisms of circadian clocks. Key words: suprachiasmatic nucleus, circadian rhythm, 2-deoxy-D-[14C]glucose.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007032:Hypothalamus, Anterior / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D003847:Deoxyglucose; D005947:Glucose