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ANALYSIS OF LIGHT-INDUCED IMMEDIATE-EARLY GENE EXPRESSION IN THE SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS

Ohnmeiss, Amanda Sara
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247680456

Abstract Details

2009, MS, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / School of Biomedical Sciences.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus (SCN) is the primary mammalian circadian clock. The SCN relies on photic cues to synchronize rhythms to the environment. Glutamate transmits photic information to the SCN and the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 attenuates the expression of c-fos in the SCN of hamsters as well as the phase shifting effects of light in both hamsters and rats. The SCN subregions of the mouse are not as anatomically well defined as those of the hamster and rat. The goal of this study was to determine whether regional specificity of immediate-early gene expression in mice follows the same pattern as it does in hamsters and to establish a clearer picture of the pathways governing gene expression patterns in the SCN during the early and the late night. We performed an analysis of the effects of MK-801 administration on light-induced expression of the immediate early genes c-fos and egr1 as well as the MAP kinase activation indicator p-ERK in both the early and late night. MK-801 inhibited both c-fos and egr1 expression in the late night in the mouse SCN but had no effect on p-ERK expression. In hamsters, there was a near significant decrease in c-fos expression in the ventral 1/3 of the SCN which coincided with a significant decrease in c-fos expression in the ventral 1/3 of the mouse SCN. Egr1 expression was significantly decreased in the dorsal portion of the SCN in mice. MK-801 administration prior to a light pulse had no effect on the phase-delaying effect of a light pulse in the early night. These findings lead us to conclude that NMDA receptor activation in the dorsal areas of the SCN increases egr1 expression and receptor activation in the ventral areas of the SCN increases c-fos expression. However, c-fos attenuation in just the ventral portion of the SCN is not sufficient to cause a blockage of phase-shifting in the wheel running behavior of mice.
Dr. Eric Mintz, PhD (Advisor)
Dr. Heather Caldwell, PhD (Committee Member)
Dr. John Johnson, PhD (Committee Member)
60 p.
Neurology
suprachiasmatic nucleus; circadian; immediate early genes; egr1; c-fos

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ohnmeiss, A. S. (2009). ANALYSIS OF LIGHT-INDUCED IMMEDIATE-EARLY GENE EXPRESSION IN THE SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247680456

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ohnmeiss, Amanda. ANALYSIS OF LIGHT-INDUCED IMMEDIATE-EARLY GENE EXPRESSION IN THE SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS. 2009. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247680456.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ohnmeiss, Amanda. "ANALYSIS OF LIGHT-INDUCED IMMEDIATE-EARLY GENE EXPRESSION IN THE SUPRACHIASMATIC NUCLEUS." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1247680456

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.