Manipulating circadian clock neuron firing rate resets molecular circadian rhythms and behavior

• Published in: Nature neuroscience Vol. 18; no. 3; pp. 373 - 375
• Main Authors: Jones, Jeff R, Tackenberg, Michael C, McMahon, Douglas G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.03.2015; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 13/106; 14/19; 14/5; 631/378/1385/1330; 631/378/1697; 631/378/87; 64/60; 9/74; Action Potentials - drug effects; Action Potentials - physiology; Animal Genetics and Genomics; Animals; Behavior; Behavioral Sciences; Biological clocks; Biological Techniques; Bioluminescence; Biomedicine; brief-communication; Channelrhodopsins; Circadian rhythm; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Circadian rhythms; Communication; In Vitro Techniques; Luminescent Proteins - genetics; Luminescent Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Motor Activity - genetics; Motor Activity - physiology; Neural circuitry; Neurobiology; Neurons; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - physiology; Neurosciences; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Period Circadian Proteins - genetics; Period Circadian Proteins - metabolism; Photic Stimulation; Physiological aspects; Physiological research; Receptors, Dopamine D1 - genetics; Receptors, Dopamine D1 - metabolism; Sodium Channel Blockers - pharmacology; Suprachiasmatic nucleus; Suprachiasmatic Nucleus - cytology; Tetrodotoxin - pharmacology; Time Factors; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - pharmacology; United States > US; Tennessee; Nashville Tennessee
• ISSN: 1097-6256; 1546-1726
• DOI: 10.1038/nn.3937

Using optogenetic manipulations and bioluminescence imaging of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) firing rate, this study examines the interaction between molecular, electrical and behavioral circadian rhythms in mice. The study shows that alteration of clock neuron firing can reset molecular and behavioral circadian rhythms, and this effect required neuronal network interaction within the SCN. Thus, clock neuron spiking is fundamental to circadian pacemaking as both an input to and output of the neuronal network responsible for circadian behavior. To examine the interaction between molecular, electrical and behavioral circadian rhythms, we combined optogenetic manipulation of suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) firing rate with bioluminescence imaging and locomotor activity monitoring. Manipulating firing rate reset circadian rhythms both ex vivo and in vivo , and this resetting required spikes and network communication. This suggests that SCN firing rate is fundamental to circadian pacemaking as both an input to and output of the molecular clockworks.