Summary
In the guinea pig with chronically implanted electrodes, neuronal multiple unit activity (MUA) was recorded inside and outside the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Long-term recording of the SCN indicated distinct daily rhythms with a daytime peak in MUA during a 24-h light-dark (LD 12∶12) cycle. On the other hand, MUA recorded from adjacent hypothalamic regions outside the SCN showed a phase reversal with a nighttime peak, similarly to the rat. The amplitude of the rhythms recorded outside the SCN was much smaller (one-half to one-quarter) than that inside the SCN. These rhythms persisted during constant darkness indicating characteristics of endogenous circadian rhythmicity. When the external lightdark cycle was delayed abruptly for 12 h, MUA rhythms showed a gradual phase shift taking 7–10 days for complete reentrainment. Overt behavior including sleep-wakefulness did not show significant and consistent daily or circadian rhythms in spite of the distinct oscillation in neuronal activity inside the SCN.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- SCN :
-
suprachiasmatic nucleus
- MUA :
-
multiple unit activity
References
Garris DR (1979) Diurnal fluctuation of plasma cortisol levels in the guinea pig. Acta Endocrinol 90:692–695
Horton BJ, West CE, Turley SD (1975) Diurnal variation in the feeding pattern of guinea pigs. Nutr Metab 18:294–301
Ibuka N (1984) Ontogenesis of circadian sleep-wakefulness rhythms and developmental changes of sleep in the altricial rat and in the precocial guinea pig. Behav Brain Res 11:185–196
Ibuka N, Kawamura H (1975) Loss of circadian rhythm in sleep-wakefulness cycle in the rat by suprachiasmatic nucleus lesions. Brain Res 96:76–81
Ibuka N, Inouye ST, Kawamura H (1977) Analysis of sleep-wakefulness rhythms in male rats after suprachiasmatic nucleus lesions and ocular enucleation. Brain Res 122:33–47
Inouye ST, Kawamura H (1979) Persistence of circadian rhythmicity in a mammalian hypothalamic ‘island’ containing the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 76:5962–5966
Inouye ST, Kawamura H (1982) Characteristics of a circadian pacemaker in suprachiasmatic nucleus. J Comp Physiol 146:153–160
Kawamura H, Ibuka N (1978) The search for circadian rhythm pacemakers in the light of lesion experiments. Chronobiologia 5:69–94
Kawamura H, Inouye ST (1979) Circadian rhythm in a hypothalamic island containing the suprachiasmatic nucleus. In: Suda M, Hayaishi O, Nakagawa H (eds) Biological rhythms and their central mechanism. Elsevier/North Holland, Amsterdam, pp 335–341
Moore RY, Eichler VB (1972) Loss of a circadian adrenal corticosterone rhythm following suprachiasmatic lesions in the rat. Brain Res 42:201–206
Pang SF, Yu HS, Tang PL (1982) Regulation of melatonin in the retinae of guinea pigs: effect of environmental lighting. J Exp Zool 222:11–15
Reeve DR (1978) The diurnal variation of mitotic response in the epithelium at the edge of acute ulcers in the rectal mucous membrane of guinea-pigs. J Anat 125:337–348
Reppert SM, Swaninathen S, Fisher DA (1981) Vasopressin exhibits a rhythmic daily pattern in cerebrospinal fluid but not in blood. Science 213:1256–1257
Sato T, Kawamura H (1984a) Circadian rhythms in multiple unit activity inside and outside the suprachiasmatic nucleus in the diurnal chipmunk (Eutamias sibiricus). Neurosci Res 1:45–52
Sato T, Kawamura H (1984b) Effect of bilateral suprachiasmatic nucleus lesions on the circadian rhythms in a diurnal rodent, the Siberian chipmunk (Eutamias Sibiricus). J Comp Physiol A 155:745–752
Sawaki Y, Nihonmatsu I, Kawamura H (1984) Transplantation of the neonatal suprachiasmatic nuclei into rats with complete bilateral suprachiasmatic lesions. Neurosci Res 1:67–72
Scheving LE, Sohal GS, Enna CD, Pauly JE (1973) The persistence of a circadian rhythm in histamine response in guinea pigs maintained under continuous illumination. Anat Rec 175:1–6
Schwartz WJ, Reppert SM, Eagan SM, Moore-Ede MC (1983) In vivo metabolic activity of the suprachiasmatic nuclei: a comparative study. Brain Res 274:184–187
Stephan FK, Zucker I (1972) Circadian rhythms in drinking behavior and locomotor activity of rats are eliminated by hypothalamic lesions. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 69:1583–1586
Yamaoka S (1983) The relationship between sleep circadian rhythm and central feedback mechanism of gonadal steroid in female guinea pigs. Endocrinol Jpn 30:339–351
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kurumiya, S., Kawamura, H. Circadian oscillation of the multiple unit activity in the guinea pig suprachiasmatic nucleus. J. Comp. Physiol. 162, 301–308 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00606118
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00606118