Circadian expression of NMDA receptor mRNAs, epsilon 3 and zeta 1, in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of rat brain.
The presence of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel subunit epsilon 3 and zeta 1 mRNAs in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was detected by sensitive in situ hybridization. The daily fluctuations in the epsilon 3 and zeta 1 subunit mRNAs in their abundance were found in the SCN to be high during the day and lower during the night under 12 h light:12 h dark conditions (LD 12:12). Under constant darkness for 15 days, both the epsilon 3 and the zeta 1 mRNA levels in the SCN remained cyclic. Furthermore, after exposure of rats to light, the epsilon 3 and zeta 1 subunit mRNAs increased during the subjective night, but not during the subjective day. These results implicate the involvement of the epsilon 3 and zeta 1 subunits in neuronal signaling in the SCN and suggest that these subunits of the NMDA receptor channel are regulated by light and a circadian clock.
Ishida
N
N
Cell Biology laboratory, National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, AIST, MITI, Tsukuba Science City, Japan.
Matsui
M
M
Mitsui
Y
Y
Mishina
M
M
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate