Constant light desynchronizes mammalian clock neurons

• Published in: Nature neuroscience Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 267 - 269
• Main Authors: McMahon, Douglas G, Ohta, Hidenobu, Yamazaki, Shin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.03.2005
• Subjects: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Biological Clocks - physiology; Biological Clocks - radiation effects; Cell Count - methods; Cell nuclei; Chi-Square Distribution; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Circadian rhythms; Culture Techniques - methods; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; Eye Proteins - genetics; Functional Laterality; Gene Expression Regulation - radiation effects; Genetic aspects; Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics; Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism; Light; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Motor Activity - physiology; Motor Activity - radiation effects; Neurons; Neurons - physiology; Neurons - radiation effects; Period Circadian Proteins; Physiological aspects; Suprachiasmatic Nucleus - cytology; Suprachiasmatic Nucleus - physiology; Time Factors; United States
• ISSN: 1097-6256; 1546-1726
• DOI: 10.1038/nn1395

Circadian organization can be disrupted by constant light, resulting in behavioral arrhythmicity or 'splitting' of rhythms of activity and rest. By imaging molecular rhythms of individual clock neurons in explanted mouse clock nuclei, we now find that constant light desynchronizes clock neurons but does not compromise their ability to generate circadian rhythms. Cellular synchrony within clock nuclei is disrupted during arrhythmicity, whereas neurons in the left and right clock nuclei cycle in antiphase during 'splitting.'