Nature Neuroscience
6, 111 - 112 (2003)
Published online: 21 January 2003; | doi:10.1038/nn1006
The eye is necessary for a circadian rhythm in the suprachiasmatic nucleusHan S. Lee1, 2, 3, Jennifer L. Nelms1, 2, Mary Nguyen1, 2, Rae Silver4
& Michael N. Lehman1, 21
Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
2
Neuroscience Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
3
Physician Scientist Training Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
4
Department of Psychology, Barnard College and Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA
Correspondence should be addressed to Michael N. Lehman michael.lehman@uc.eduIn mammals, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the site of the pacemaker that is responsible for circadian rhythms in behavior and physiology1, and it is currently believed that all rhythms of SCN cells are endogenously driven and independent of extra-SCN tissues. The eye has also been shown to contain an independent circadian oscillator2, but the role of the ocular clock and whether it influences the SCN are unknown. Here we found that a rhythm of phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in an anatomically distinct subdivision of the SCN was completely abolished by bilateral enucleation in hamsters and mice, indicating that the eye is necessary for a circadian rhythm within the SCN.
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