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Suprachiasmatic nucleus: a central autonomic clock

Nature Neuroscience volume 2, pages 1051–1053 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Circadian rhythms are daily changes in behavior and physiology produced by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) even in the absence of external stimuli1, although photic input from the retina to the SCN entrains these changes to a 24-hour cycle. The SCN modulates autonomic and neuroendocrine function to prepare for diurnal or nocturnal changes in behavior, but its precise connections to the autonomic nervous system are unknown. We used viral transneuronal labeling2 to demonstrate extensive connections of the SCN with diverse types of sympathetic as well as parasympathetic motor systems. Double-virus transneuronal tracing showed connections of single SCN neurons to multiple autonomic systems. However, targets of SCN modulation seem limited to those that operate continuously under tonic, rather than phasic, control.

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Figure 1: SCN connections revealed by Bartha PRV injected into either superior cervical ganglion (SCG), stellate ganglion, adrenal gland or celiac ganglion.
Figure 2: SCN parasympathetic circuit.
Figure 3: Individual SCN neurons are connected to multiple autonomic outflow systems.

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Acknowledgements

We thank D. A. Leib for providing virus stocks, K. B. Platt and K. A. Roth for antibodies and J. L. Hoffman for assistance with surgery. This work was supported by grants from the NIH (HL-25449) and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Me854/3). T.U. was Visiting Assistant Professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and supported by funds from the McDonnell Center for Higher Brain Function at Washington University and Wakayama Medical College.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Box 8108, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, 63110, Missouri, USA

    Takashi Ueyama, Karl E. Krout, Xay Van Nguyen, Vladimir Karpitskiy & Arthur D. Loewy

  2. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Wakayama Medical College, Wakayama, 641-0012, Japan

    Takashi Ueyama

  3. Federal Research Centre for Virus Diseases of Animals, Institute of Molecular Biology, Friedrich-Loeffler Institutes, Insel Riems, D-17498, Germany

    Alice Kollert & Thomas C. Mettenleiter

Authors
  1. Takashi Ueyama
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  2. Karl E. Krout
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  3. Xay Van Nguyen
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  4. Vladimir Karpitskiy
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  5. Alice Kollert
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  6. Thomas C. Mettenleiter
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  7. Arthur D. Loewy
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Correspondence to Arthur D. Loewy.

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Ueyama, T., Krout, K., Nguyen, X. et al. Suprachiasmatic nucleus: a central autonomic clock. Nat Neurosci 2, 1051–1053 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/15973

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