Changes in neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity and transcript levels in circadian system structures of the diurnal rodent, the thirteen-lined ground squirrel.

ABSTRACT: The intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) and its neuropeptide Y (NPY) projection to the main circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), have been the focus of extensive research conducted, for the most part, on nocturnal rodent species. However, a variety of anatomical and physiological differences between the circadian system of diurnal and nocturnal species have been reported. These differences led us to question whether the role of NPY in the circadian system of the diurnal ground squirrel differs from that in nocturnal rodents. We used semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry to analyze NPY content in SCN terminals of squirrels sacrificed at specific times of the day and compared the data to previous published results from the rat. Additionally, IGL NPY mRNA was quantified using real-t

SUBMITTER: Vidal L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1783931 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature