Ishida N, Matsui M, Mitsui Y, Mishina M
Cell Biology laboratory, National Institute of Bioscience and Human Technology, AIST, MITI, Tsukuba Science City, Japan.
Neurosci Lett. 1994 Jan 31;166(2):211-5. doi: 10.1016/0304-3940(94)90488-x.
The presence of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor channel subunit epsilon 3 and zeta 1 mRNAs in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was detected by sensitive in situ hybridization. The daily fluctuations in the epsilon 3 and zeta 1 subunit mRNAs in their abundance were found in the SCN to be high during the day and lower during the night under 12 h light:12 h dark conditions (LD 12:12). Under constant darkness for 15 days, both the epsilon 3 and the zeta 1 mRNA levels in the SCN remained cyclic. Furthermore, after exposure of rats to light, the epsilon 3 and zeta 1 subunit mRNAs increased during the subjective night, but not during the subjective day. These results implicate the involvement of the epsilon 3 and zeta 1 subunits in neuronal signaling in the SCN and suggest that these subunits of the NMDA receptor channel are regulated by light and a circadian clock.
