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GABA in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus and its role in diurnal rhythmicity

Author

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  • Shlomo Wagner

    (Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University)

  • Mona Castel

    (*Cell and Animal Biology, Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University)

  • Harold Gainer

    (†Laboratory of Neurochemistry, National Institutes of Health, NINDS)

  • Yosef Yarom

    (Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University)

Abstract

Mammals manifest circadian behaviour timed by an endogenous clock in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)1. Considerable progress has been made in identifying the molecular basis of the circadian clock2,3, but the mechanisms by which it is translated into cyclic firing activity, high during the day and low at night, are still poorly understood. GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), a common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is particularly densely distributed within the SCN, where it is located in the majority of neuronal somata4,5 and synaptic terminals6,7. Using an in vitro brain-slice technique, we have now studied the effect of bath-applied GABA on adult SCN neurons at various times of the day. We find that GABA acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter at night, decreasing the firing frequency; but during the day GABA acts as an excitatory neurotransmitter, increasing the firing frequency. We show that this dual effect, which is mediated by GABAA receptors, may be attributed to an oscillation in intracellular chloride concentration. A likely explanation is that the amplitude of the oscillation in firing rate, displayed by individual neurons, is amplified by the dual effect of GABA in the SCN's GABAergic network.

Suggested Citation

  • Shlomo Wagner & Mona Castel & Harold Gainer & Yosef Yarom, 1997. "GABA in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus and its role in diurnal rhythmicity," Nature, Nature, vol. 387(6633), pages 598-603, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:387:y:1997:i:6633:d:10.1038_42468
    DOI: 10.1038/42468
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    Cited by:

    1. Enrico Pracucci & Robert T. Graham & Laura Alberio & Gabriele Nardi & Olga Cozzolino & Vinoshene Pillai & Giacomo Pasquini & Luciano Saieva & Darren Walsh & Silvia Landi & Jinwei Zhang & Andrew J. Tre, 2023. "Daily rhythm in cortical chloride homeostasis underpins functional changes in visual cortex excitability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.

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