title: Regional differences in circadian period within the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
abstract: In mammals, circadian rhythms are driven by a pacemaker located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is composed of multiple, single-cell oscillators. Isolated SCN tissue shows clear circadian oscillation in release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in organotypic slice cultures. Previously, we reported that the oscillators in the dorsal SCN have shorter periods than those in the ventral part. Here, we examined whether a correlation between the period and the rostral-caudal co-ordination could exist. The rostral, central and caudal SCN were cultured separately and the periods of circadian rhythms of AVP release were measured. The rostral and caudal parts of the SCN showed shorter periods than the central SCN. Together with previous findings, it is suggested that the shorter period region originates from AVP containing areas, while the longer period region corresponds with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) containing cells. In our VIP-immunoreactive slices, the application of VIP antagonists shortened the periods of the AVP-releasing rhythm. These data indicate that the oscillators in AVP cells have short periods and are entrained by VIP cells to form a single integrated rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Regulatory Physiology, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010507:Periodicity; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide