- 作者: Kun-Ruey Shieh; Shu-Chuan Yang; Xin-Yun Lu; Huda Akil & Stanley J. Watson
- 作者服務機構: 1 Institute of Neuroscience and ; 2 Department of Physiology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien 970, ROC; ; 3 Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi College of Technology, Hualien 970, ROC; ; 4 Mental Health Research Institute, The University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- 中文摘要: --
- 英文摘要: High densities of the mRNA of three rhythm-related genes, rPeriodl (rPer1), rPer2, and rClock, which share high homology in Drosophila and mammals, are found in the rat hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN, however, is not the only brain region that expresses these genes. To understand the possible physiological roles of these rhythm-related genes, we examined expression of these genes in different brain regions at various time points in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Using semi quantitative in situ hybridization with 35S-riboprobes to evaluate mRNA levels, the diurnal rhythmicity of rPer1, and rPer1 mRNA levels was found in the SCN, arcuate nucleus, and median eminence/pars tuberalis. Expression patterns of mRNA for rPerl and rPer2, however, were not similar in these brain regions. The rhythmicity in these brain regions was specific, because it was not observed in the cerebellum or hippocampus. Moreover, diurnal changes in rClock mRNA expression were not detected in any of the brain regions examined. These findings suggest that the different expression patterns observed for rPerl, rPer2, and rClock mRNAs may be attributed to their different physiological roles in these brain regions, and support previous work indicating that circadian rhythms in the brain are widespread.
- 中文關鍵字: --
- 英文關鍵字: arcuate nucleus, cerebellum, circadian rhythm, hippocampus, pars tuberalis/median eminence, suprachiasmatic nucleus