Mieda Michihiro
Department of Integrative Neurophysiology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan.
Front Neurosci. 2019 Feb 25;13:139. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00139. eCollection 2019.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) functions as the central circadian pacemaker in mammals and entrains to the environmental light/dark cycle. It is composed of multiple types of GABAergic neurons, and interneuronal communications among these neurons are essential for the circadian pacemaking of the SCN. However, the mechanisms underlying the SCN neuronal network remain unknown. This review will provide a brief overview of the current knowledge concerning the differential roles of multiple neuropeptides and neuropeptide-expressing neurons in the SCN, especially focusing on the emerging roles of arginine vasopressin-producing neurons uncovered by recent studies utilizing neuron type-specific genetic manipulations in mice.
视交叉上核（SCN）作为哺乳动物的中央昼夜节律起搏器，并与环境光/暗周期同步。它由多种类型的γ-氨基丁酸能神经元组成，这些神经元之间的神经元间通讯对于SCN的昼夜节律起搏至关重要。然而，SCN神经元网络的潜在机制仍然未知。本综述将简要概述当前关于多种神经肽和表达神经肽的神经元在SCN中的不同作用的知识，特别关注利用小鼠神经元类型特异性基因操作的最新研究所揭示的产生精氨酸加压素的神经元的新作用。
