C-fos mRNA increases in the ground squirrel suprachiasmatic nucleus during arousal from hibernation.
During hibernation the body temperature of the golden-mantled ground squirrel, Spermophilus lateralis, may drop below 5 degrees C for a few hours to a week or more. Animals cycle between euthermia and deep hibernation many times over the course of the hibernation season. Expression of the transcription factor c-fos increased in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, the mammalian circadian clock, during deep hibernation and peaked during the arousal from hibernation. The pattern of increase in c-fos messenger RNA seen in the SCN by in situ hybridization was similar to that seen by Northern blot analysis of total hypothalamic RNA. The induction of c-fos may reflect a wake-up signal, increasing transcription of genes required in the euthermic state.
Bitting
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Department of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305.
Sutin
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Watson
F L
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Leard
L E
LE
O'Hara
B F
BF
Heller
H C
HC
Kilduff
T S
TS
D000818:Animals; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003847:Deoxyglucose; D016762:Genes, fos; D006605:Hibernation / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003847:Deoxyglucose