Abstract
An unusual property of the circadian timekeeping systems of animals is rhythm "splitting," in which a single daily period of physical activity (usually measured as wheel running) dissociates into two stably coupled components about 12 hours apart; this behavior has been ascribed to a clock composed of two circadian oscillators cycling in antiphase. We analyzed gene expression in the hypothalamic circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), of behaviorally "split" hamsters housed in constant light. The results show that the two oscillators underlying the split condition correspond to the left and right sides of the bilaterally paired SCN.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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ARNTL Transcription Factors
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Animals
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Arginine Vasopressin / genetics
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Arginine Vasopressin / metabolism
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Biological Clocks / physiology*
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
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Cricetinae
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Gene Expression*
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Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs
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In Situ Hybridization
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Light
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Male
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Mesocricetus
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Motor Activity
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Nuclear Proteins / genetics
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Period Circadian Proteins
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Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / metabolism
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Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / physiology*
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
Substances
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ARNTL Transcription Factors
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Bmal1 protein, mouse
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Cell Cycle Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Per2 protein, mouse
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Per3 protein, mouse
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Period Circadian Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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Arginine Vasopressin