Mason R, Harrington M E, Rusak B
Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, U.K.
Neurosci Lett. 1987 Sep 23;80(2):173-9. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(87)90649-5.
The rate and pattern of neuronal discharge in the hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was studied using an in vitro hypothalamic slice preparation. The firing rate of hamster SCN neurones (n = 183 cells) exhibited a circadian variation similar to that reported in the rat. SCN neurones tested for responses to pressure ejection of neuropeptide Y (NPY) (n = 49) were either tonically excited (65%) or unresponsive (35%). There was a tendency for more NPY-responsive cells to be recorded during the light phase of the circadian light-dark cycle.
