Biomaterial Database

Suprachiasmatic nucleus in the mouse: retinal innervation, intrinsic organization and efferent projections. 2001

E E Abrahamson, and R Y Moore

Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. eeast@pitt.edu

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the principal circadian pacemaker of the mammalian circadian timing system. The SCN is composed of two anatomically and functionally distinct subdivisions, designated core and shell, which can be distinguished on the basis of their chemoarchitecture and connections in the rat. In the present study, we examine the intrinsic organization and the afferent and efferent connections of the mouse SCN using immunocytochemistry and ocular injections of cholera toxin. Neurons of the SCN shell contain GABA, calbindin (CALB), arginine vasopressin (AVP), angiotensin II (AII) and met-enkephalin (mENK), and receive input from galanin (GAL) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactive fibers. Neurons of the SCN core synthesize GABA, CALB, VIP, calretinin (CALR), gastrin releasing peptide (GRP), and neurotensin (NT), and receive input from the retina and from fibers that contain neuropeptide Y (NPY) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT). Fibers projecting from SCN neurons that are immunoreactive for AVP and VIP exhibit a characteristic morphology, and project to the lateral septum, a series of medial hypothalamic areas extending from the preoptic to the posterior hypothalamic area and to the paraventricular thalamic nucleus. The organization of the mouse SCN, and its connections, are similar to that in other mammalian species.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007150	Immunohistochemistry	Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents.	Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D008297	Male		Males
D008810	Mice, Inbred C57BL	One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases.	Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D009434	Neural Pathways	Neural tracts connecting one part of the nervous system with another.	Neural Interconnections,Interconnection, Neural,Interconnections, Neural,Neural Interconnection,Neural Pathway,Pathway, Neural,Pathways, Neural
D009474	Neurons	The basic cellular units of nervous tissue. Each neuron consists of a body, an axon, and dendrites. Their purpose is to receive, conduct, and transmit impulses in the NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Nerve Cells,Cell, Nerve,Cells, Nerve,Nerve Cell,Neuron
D009478	Neuropeptide Y	A 36-amino acid peptide present in many organs and in many sympathetic noradrenergic neurons. It has vasoconstrictor and natriuretic activity and regulates local blood flow, glandular secretion, and smooth muscle activity. The peptide also stimulates feeding and drinking behavior and influences secretion of pituitary hormones.	Neuropeptide Y-Like Immunoreactive Peptide,Neuropeptide Tyrosine,Neuropeptide Y Like Immunoreactive Peptide,Tyrosine, Neuropeptide
D009479	Neuropeptides	Peptides released by NEURONS as intercellular messengers. Many neuropeptides are also hormones released by non-neuronal cells.	Neuropeptide
D009496	Neurotensin	A biologically active tridecapeptide isolated from the hypothalamus. It has been shown to induce hypotension in the rat, to stimulate contraction of guinea pig ileum and rat uterus, and to cause relaxation of rat duodenum. There is also evidence that it acts as both a peripheral and a central nervous system neurotransmitter.
D010641	Phenotype	The outward appearance of the individual. It is the product of interactions between genes, and between the GENOTYPE and the environment.	Phenotypes
D012160	Retina	The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent.	Ora Serrata