Suprachiasmatic nuclei of the fetal rat: characterization of a functional circadian clock using /sup 14/C-labeled deoxyglucose

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · J. Neurosci.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6306126

Reppert, S M; Schwartz, W J

The circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) was characterized in the fetal rat by using /sup 14/C-labeled deoxyglucose to monitor glucose utilization (metabolic activity) of the nuclei. A clear day-night oscillation of metabolic activity was detectable in the fetal SCN from the 19th through the 21st days of gestation; the nuclei were metabolically active during the subjective day and metabolically inactive during the subjective night. During the subjective day on gestational day 21, the fetal SCN were found to manifest high metabolic activity for most of the subjective day. The authors were able to acutely dissociate SCN metabolic activity in the mother rat from that in the fetus by exposing the pregnant animals to light during the normal dark period of diurnal lighting on gestational day 20. The results show the utility of the deoxyglucose method for directly investigating prenatally the function of the biological clock located in the SCN.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
• OSTI ID: 6306126
• Journal Information: J. Neurosci.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Neurosci.; (United States) Vol. 4:7; ISSN JNRSD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551001* -- Physiological Systems-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL NUCLEI
DAILY VARIATIONS
FETUSES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
PHYSIOLOGY
PREGNANCY
RATS
RODENTS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES