Biomaterial Database

Neural connections of the suprachiasmatic nucleus and medial hypothalamus of the Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). 1994

B G Orpen, and M Steiner

St. Joseph's Hospital Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

The neural connections of brain areas involved in the control of circadian rhythms were investigated in the Syrian hamster by observing the anterograde and retrograde neural labelling resulting from injections of HRP-WGA into the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and subparaventricular zone (SPZ). The neural connections of these 2 brain areas in the strongly photoperiodic hamster are very similar to those in the more weakly photoperiodic rat. Two differences were observed: (1) in the rat, but not in the hamster, the SCN projects to the ventral geniculate nucleus and intergeniculate leaflet of the thalamus; and (2) reciprocal contralateral neural connections appear to be more numerous in the hamster than in the rat SCN. These differences may relate to the differences in photoperiodic sensitivity of the 2 species.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007033	Hypothalamus, Middle	Middle portion of the hypothalamus containing the arcuate, dorsomedial, ventromedial nuclei, the TUBER CINEREUM and the PITUITARY GLAND.	Hypothalamus, Medial,Intermediate Hypothalamic Region,Hypothalamic Region, Intermediate,Hypothalamic Regions, Intermediate,Intermediate Hypothalamic Regions,Medial Hypothalamus,Middle Hypothalamus,Region, Intermediate Hypothalamic,Regions, Intermediate Hypothalamic
D008297	Male		Males
D008647	Mesocricetus	A genus in the order Rodentia and family Cricetidae. One species, Mesocricetus auratus or golden hamster is widely used in biomedical research.	Hamsters, Golden,Hamsters, Golden Syrian,Hamsters, Syrian,Mesocricetus auratus,Syrian Golden Hamster,Syrian Hamster,Golden Hamster,Golden Hamster, Syrian,Golden Hamsters,Golden Syrian Hamsters,Hamster, Golden,Hamster, Syrian,Hamster, Syrian Golden,Syrian Hamsters
D004525	Efferent Pathways	Nerve structures through which impulses are conducted from a nerve center toward a peripheral site. Such impulses are conducted via efferent neurons (NEURONS, EFFERENT), such as MOTOR NEURONS, autonomic neurons, and hypophyseal neurons.	Motor Pathways,Efferent Pathway,Pathway, Efferent,Pathways, Efferent
D005260	Female		Females
D006224	Cricetinae	A subfamily in the family MURIDAE, comprising the hamsters. Four of the more common genera are Cricetus, CRICETULUS; MESOCRICETUS; and PHODOPUS.	Cricetus,Hamsters,Hamster
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013493	Suprachiasmatic Nucleus	An ovoid densely packed collection of small cells of the anterior hypothalamus lying close to the midline in a shallow impression of the OPTIC CHIASM.	Hypothalamic Suprachiasmatic Nuclei,Hypothalamic Suprachiasmatic Nucleus,Suprachiasmatic Nuclei,Suprachiasmatic Nuclei, Hypothalamic,Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Hypothalamic
D017440	Photoperiod	The time period of daily exposure that an organism receives from daylight or artificial light. It is believed that photoperiodic responses may affect the control of energy balance and thermoregulation.	Dark-Light Cycle,Daylight Cycle,Light Cycle,Light-Dark Cycle,Cycle, Dark-Light,Cycle, Daylight,Cycle, Light,Cycle, Light-Dark,Cycles, Dark-Light,Cycles, Daylight,Cycles, Light,Cycles, Light-Dark,Dark Light Cycle,Dark-Light Cycles,Daylight Cycles,Light Cycles,Light Dark Cycle,Light-Dark Cycles,Photoperiods