Immediate responses to ambient light in vivo reveal distinct subpopulations of suprachiasmatic VIP neurons.

ABSTRACT: The circadian rhythm pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), mediates light entrainment via vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons (SCN^VIP). Yet, how these neurons uniquely respond and connect to intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) expressing melanopsin (Opn4) has not been determined functionally in freely behaving animals. To address this, we first used monosynaptic tracing from SCN^VIP neurons in mice and identified two SCN^VIP subpopulations. Second, we recorded calcium changes in response to ambient light, at both bulk and single-cell levels, and found two unique activity patterns in response to high- and low-intensity blue light. The activity patterns of both subpopulations could be manipulated by application of an Opn

SUBMITTER: Kahan A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10520357 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature