Rhythmic firing patterns in suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN): the rôle of circuit interactions

Int J Biomed Comput. 1995 Jan;38(1):23-31. doi: 10.1016/0020-7101(94)01031-u.

Abstract

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is believed to contain the main generator of circadian rhythmicity in mammals. In order to obtain further functional details of this, electrophysiological extracellular measurements in vitro were made. By means of an interspike interval distribution analysis, it is shown that there is a novel kind of neuronal firing pattern: the harmonic pattern. From these observations, we have developed a theoretical model based on possible filtering processes occurring during synaptic transmission. The model suffices to infer that regular ultradian oscillators could be an emergent property of circuit interactions of cells in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / physiology
  • Algorithms
  • Animals
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Male
  • Models, Neurological
  • Nerve Net / physiology
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Oscillometry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / physiology*
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Time Factors