Rhythm of suprachiasmatic nucleus 2-deoxyglucose uptake in vitro.

Using a hypothalamic slice preparation containing the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and measurement of 2-deoxy[14C]glucose (2-DG) uptake by autoradiography, we have demonstrated that, after 1 h in vitro, 2-DG uptake into the SCN is proportional to the rate of glucose utilization present in vivo at the corresponding subjective time of day and that, during an 8-h incubation in vitro, the SCN is capable of spontaneously changing its metabolic rate.