Role of vasoactive intestinal peptide in the light input to the circadian system.

ABSTRACT: The neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is expressed at high levels in a subset of neurons in the ventral region of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). While VIP is known to be important for the synchronization of the SCN network, the role of VIP in photic regulation of the circadian system has received less attention. In the present study, we found that the light-evoked increase in electrical activity in vivo was unaltered by the loss of VIP. In the absence of VIP, the ventral SCN still exhibited N-methyl-d-aspartate-evoked responses in a brain slice preparation, although the absolute levels of neural activity before and after treatment were significantly reduced. Next, we used calcium imaging techniques to determine if the loss of VIP altered the calcium influx due to retinoh

SUBMITTER: Vosko A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4509820 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature