Antiphase Oscillation of the Left and Right Suprachiasmatic Nuclei

• DOI: 10.1126/science.290.5492.799
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:47:44Z
• Authors: Horacio O. de la; Iglesia; Jennifer Meyer; Alan Carpino; William J. Schwartz
• Keywords: Male; 0303 health sciences; Light; Mesocricetus; *Gene Expression; Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; Life Sciences; ARNTL Transcription Factors; Gene Expression; Nuclear Proteins; Cell Cycle Proteins; Period Circadian Proteins; Motor Activity; Circadian Rhythm; Arginine Vasopressin; 03 medical and health sciences; Biological Clocks; Cricetinae; Medicine and Health Sciences; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Animals; Suprachiasmatic Nucleus; In Situ Hybridization; Transcription Factors

An unusual property of the circadian timekeeping systems of animals is rhythm “splitting,” in which a single daily period of physical activity (usually measured as wheel running) dissociates into two stably coupled components about 12 hours apart; this behavior has been ascribed to a clock composed of two circadian oscillators cycling in antiphase. We analyzed gene expression in the hypothalamic circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), of behaviorally “split” hamsters housed in constant light. The results show that the two oscillators underlying the split condition correspond to the left and right sides of the bilaterally paired SCN.