Hofman M A, Swaab D F
Netherlands Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam.
Neurosci Lett. 1992 May 25;139(2):257-60. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(92)90566-p.
The mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is considered to be the principal component of the biological clock, generating a wide variety of physiological and behavioral circadian rhythms. In addition to its implication in circadian rhythms, the SCN is also involved in the expression of some seasonal cycles. In the present study we show that the volume of the human SCN and the number of vasopressin-immunoreactive neurons contained within it fluctuate significantly over the year, with values being about twice as high in the autumn as in the summer. In contrast, no seasonal variations could be detected in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), another major vasopressinergic cell group in the hypothalamus. The present findings suggest that the human SCN is influenced by seasonal variations in photoperiod.
哺乳动物的视交叉上核（SCN）被认为是生物钟的主要组成部分，可产生各种各样的生理和行为昼夜节律。除了与昼夜节律有关外，SCN还参与一些季节性周期的表达。在本研究中，我们发现人类SCN的体积及其所含加压素免疫反应性神经元的数量在一年中波动显著，秋季的值约为夏季的两倍。相比之下，在下丘脑另一个主要的加压素能细胞群室旁核（PVN）中未检测到季节性变化。目前的研究结果表明，人类SCN受光周期季节性变化的影响。
