Orchestrating Time: Arrangements of The Brain Circadian Clock
Orchestrating Time: Arrangements of The Brain Circadian Clock
Orchestrating Time: Arrangements of The Brain Circadian Clock
3 March 2005
Daily oscillations in physiology and behavior are regu- circadian pacemaker located in the SCN. This conclusion
lated by a brain clock located in the suprachiasmatic rests on decades of research from numerous laboratories [2].
nucleus (SCN). Individual cells within this nucleus Circadian rhythmicity is abolished by SCN lesions [3,4]
contain an autonomous molecular clock. Recent dis- and restored by SCN transplants [5]. The restored
coveries that make use of new molecular and genetic behavioral rhythm expresses properties of the donor, not
data and tools highlight the conclusion that the SCN is a the host [6,7]. These studies led to a dispute reminiscent of
heterogeneous network of functionally and phenotypi- the classic aggregate-field versus localization-of-function
cally differentiated cells. Neurons within SCN sub- debate because the lesion results suggest that, as long as
regions serve distinctly separate functions in 15–25% of the SCN remains intact, rhythmicity persists
regulating the overall activity of the circadian clock: [8–11]. When the lesion data were integrated with the
some cells within the SCN rhythmically express ‘clock’ observation that individual neurons within the SCN are
genes, whereas others exhibit induced expression of rhythmic and exhibit a range of circadian periods [12–17],
these genes after the organism has been exposed to a it appeared that an organism needed only a small number
light pulse. The coordinated interaction of these func- of clock cells to exhibit overt rhythmicity. In determining
tionally distinct cells is integral to the coherent function- whether a lesion would eliminate rhythmicity, location of
ing of the brain clock. the lesion and identity of the cells spared or destroyed
appeared to be less important than the amount of tissue
Introduction removed. This led to the question of how a single unified
One of the earliest controversies in neuroscience con-
output emerged from this assembly of independent
cerned localization of function in the brain. Pierre
oscillators. In one model, individual cells within the SCN
Flourens and Karl Lashley, advocates of the aggregate
are weakly coupled such that the oscillators become
field theory that all brain regions participate in all mental
synchronized and oscillate with the mean period of the
functions, tested localization of function by making lesions
population [13].
throughout the brains of rats in an attempt to eliminate
The past decade has witnessed rapid breakthroughs in
specific behaviors. These crude experiments led to the
our understanding of how the circadian clock functions at
conclusion that observed deficits were a consequence of
the cellular and molecular levels (Figure 1). Individual
the size, rather than the location, of the lesion. Modern
neuroscience now rejects the aggregate field theory, based SCN neurons express self-sustained circadian oscillations
on convincing evidence for localization of function. [12] driven by autoregulatory transcription–translation
However, although the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is feedback loops [1,18]. The discovery of core molecular
possibly one of the best examples of localized neural components of the cellular circadian clock enables exam-
function, the argument of localized versus distributed ination of SCN function at high spatial and temporal
function has been recapitulated as our understanding of resolution, revolutionizing our understanding of how the
brain clock assembly has evolved. different cell populations within the SCN are arranged to
form separate functional units. These studies challenge in
two ways the view that the SCN is functionally homo-
Keeping time: how to synchronize 20 000 clocks geneous. First, some SCN cells are not endogenously
Biological processes exhibit daily rhythms that enable rhythmic with respect to clock gene expression; only some
organisms to exploit temporal niches in their environment cells receive direct retinal input and immediately express
and coordinate physiological processes to optimize meta- clock genes following photic stimulation. Second, indi-
bolic efficiency. In mammals, these rhythms exhibit vidual clock cells within the SCN exhibit various phases
periods of about a day and are endogenously generated and free-running periods [15,17,19]. These phenomena
by the 20 000 neurons [1] that constitute the master are difficult to explain by coupling alone. An alternative
Corresponding author: Antle, M.C. ([email protected]). ‘network’ model suggests that it is precisely this hetero-
Available online 21 January 2005 geneity of the SCN that is integral to keeping the
www.sciencedirect.com 0166-2236/$ - see front matter Q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2005.01.003
146 Review TRENDS in Neurosciences Vol.28 No.3 March 2005
P Cytoplasm
Nucleus GRP Cytoplasm
IPGC
CREB
P VIP Nucleus
CREB
RHT
Per1
CRE CB Per1,2,3
Glutamate Ca2+ E box
SP MAPK P GABA P Cr
CREB
CB Cry1,2
PACAP cAMP Per2 SP E box
CRE ?
CB Rev-Erbα
E box
Rev-Erbα
RORa BMAL1
ROR
VIP
VP
GRP Diffusible
GABA
GABA signal
Targets
TRENDS in Neurosciences
Figure 1. Molecular regulation of the intracellular circadian clock. Light is transduced into a neural signal by intrinsically photoreceptive ganglion cells (IPGCs) in the retina and
conveyed to the SCN core along the retinohypothalamic tract (RHT), resulting in the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate and the neuromodulators substance P (SP) and
pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) onto retino-recipient cells in the SCN core. Glutamate activates NMDA receptors, causing an influx of Ca2C, which activates
kinases such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), resulting in phosphorylation of cAMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB). Activated CREB binds to the
Ca2C/cAMP response element (CRE) in the promoter region of both Per1 and Per2, activating their transcription. Neurons in the SCN core communicate with the rhythmic SCN shell
and SCN targets using a variety of neurotransmitters, including vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and SP. Additionally, almost all SCN cells
are GABAergic [24]. Cells in the rhythmic SCN shell contain molecular clocks driven by an autoregulatory transcription–translation loop [1,69]. CLOCK (C) and BMAL (B) dimerize
and bind to E-boxes in the promoter region of Period (Per) genes, Cryptochrome (Cry) genes and Rev-Erba, activating their transcription. As PER (P) and CRY (Cr) proteins
accumulate in the cytoplasm, they dimerize and translocate to the nucleus where they inhibit the activity of CLOCK–BMAL, thus inhibiting their own transcription. At the same time,
transcription of BMAL is regulated by an RAR-related orphan receptor (ROR) element that is activated by RORa and inhibited by Rev-Erba [70]. SCN shell neurons communicate with
SCN targets using VP and GABA as neurotransmitters. Additionally, the SCN communicates with some target sites using a diffusible signal [68].
population of oscillators ticking in a coherent fashion [20]. driven by the retina [27]. These cells are called ‘cap’
This model hypothesizes that the phases of individual cells owing to their appearance, in hamsters, of sitting
oscillators are synchronized by a daily signal from a subset above CalB-containing cells [28]. Gastrin-releasing
of SCN cells. By pulling the phases closer together, the peptide (GRP)-containing cells overlap with cap cells
overall output of the system remains rhythmic. Central to (Han S. Lee, PhD thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2003)
this model are recent discoveries demonstrating that the and CalB-containing cells in hamsters [29], and with
morphological and peptidergic heterogeneity of the SCN VIP-containing cells in rats [30,31]. The spatial relation-
reflects its functional heterogeneity. ship of these phenotypically distinct regions is presented
schematically in Figure 2, and Figure 3 highlights the
Working in concert: every cell has a role phenotypic heterogeneity.
Classically, the SCN has been subdivided into a dorso-
medial shell and a ventrolateral core, based initially on The rhythm section of the orchestra: the vasopressin
retinal innervation patterns and later on the observation region
that these regions are defined by phenotypically distinct Some cells within the SCN exhibit self-sustained rhyth-
cell types [21] (Figure 2). This general arrangement has micity [12] driven by the autoregulatory transcription–
been noted in hamsters, mice, rats and humans [22–25]. translation feedback loop that regulates expression of the
Although the hamster SCN will form the framework for Period (Per) and Cryptochrome genes [1]. Rather than
the following discussion, some important species-specific being uniformly distributed in the SCN, these intrinsi-
differences are noted. Phenotypically, the SCN shell is cally rhythmic cells are largely confined to the SCN shell,
delineated by vasopressin (VP)-containing cells [22–25], occupying roughly the same area as VP-containing cells
whereas the SCN core contains a variety of cell pheno- (Figure 2) [32–34]. This region of the SCN receives little
types. The most ventral populations is a group of vaso- retinal innervation [21,24] and displays delayed clock gene
active intestinal polypeptide (VIP)-containing neurons expression following phase-shifting light exposure [32].
[23–25]. In hamsters, the caudal, ventrolateral SCN
contains a cluster of calbindin (CalB)-expressing cells Conducting the show: a role for the SCN core
[26]. Dorsal to the CalB-containing cells is a group of Cells in the SCN core receive direct retinal innervation
neurons in which the rhythm of phosphorylation of the [35,36] and express c-fos, Per1 and Per2 in response to
extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK) is phase-shifting light pulses [26,32,33,37–39]. Among the
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Review TRENDS in Neurosciences Vol.28 No.3 March 2005 147
Figure 3. The SCN is heterogeneous in structure and function. (a) Calbindin (CalB) expression in the hamster SCN from rostral (left) to caudal (right). (b) Heterogeneity of the
SCN at the mid-caudal level, as depicted by (i) peptidergic phenotype [expression of CalB, vasopressin (AVP) and gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)], (ii) functional response
(light-pulse-induced c-fos expression, with CalB and AVP as anatomical markers) and (iii) clock-controlled gene expression (AVP mRNA). Abbreviations: 3V, third ventricle;
OX, optic chiasm. Panels (a) and (b,iii) are reprinted, with permission, from Ref. [34] q Blackwell Publishing; panels (b,i) and (b,ii) are from unpublished work of M.C. Antle and
R. Silver. Scale bar, 100 mm.
understand intercellular communication signals. A phase- SCN [28,58]. Attenuated responses to GRP administration
resetting signal would be expected to adjust the phase of are observed in GRP-receptor-deficient mice and in
the circadian clock and to synchronize the activity of clock hamsters in which ERK1/2 phosphorylation has been
cells. Impairment of this signal would be expected to result pharmacologically blocked [28,58]. Although GRP-receptor-
in dampened or arrhythmic output. The neurotrans- deficient mice exhibit attenuated responses to bright light
mitters and neuromodulators implicated in intra-SCN pulses, they have normal responses to dim light pulses
communication of photic signals, including substance P and their locomotor behavior is rhythmic in constant
(SP), GRP and VIP, will now be discussed in turn. conditions [58]. These data suggest that GRP is an output
SP-containing cells are found within the retino-recipi- signal of the SCN core that works in concert with other
ent SCN core. In hamsters, almost all SP-positive cells signaling molecules to modulate responses to different
coexpress CalB [29]. When applied to the rat SCN in vitro, light intensities.
SP phase-shifts the circadian rhythm in electrical firing VIP-containing cells are found within the SCN core
rate, with delays during the early night and advances [21], clustered in the ventral SCN adjacent to the optic
during the late night [52]. SP antagonists attenuate light- chiasm. In hamsters, VIP expression is occasionally
induced c-fos expression in the shell but not in the core colocalized with that of CalB. In rats, VIP-containing
SCN [53]. These findings are consistent with SP being an cells can be divided into a medial GRP-free group and a
output signal of the retino-recipient cells. However, when lateral group that contains GRP [30]. Only the lateral
microinjected into the SCN of hamsters, SP produces group expresses Per1 following a light pulse [30]. Few
small phase delays during only the early night [54]. VIP-containing cells rhythmically express Per1 or Per2
Together these findings suggest that, although SP might [31,59]. When VIP is microinjected into the SCN, alone or
be an intra-nuclear signal from the SCN core, it probably in a peptide cocktail, it produces photic-like phase shifts
works in concert with other transmitters. [55,56]. When applied to the SCN in vitro, VIP produces
GRP-containing cells are found within the SCN photic-like phase shifts [60] and induces Per1 and Per2
core. In rats they are colocalized with a lateral popu- expression [61]. VIP-deficient mice, or knockout mice
lation of VIP-expressing cells [30], whereas in hamsters lacking the VIP receptor VPAC2, have severely disrupted
GRP-containing cells are located more dorsally and activity rhythms in constant conditions [62,63]. Recent
frequently contain CalB [45]. In rats, GRP-containing findings suggest that, although these animals and SCN
VIP-positive cells receive retinal input [36] and express slices prepared from them are frequently arrhythmic,
c-fos following light exposure [37]. Cells in the GRP-positive individual SCN cells might continue to be rhythmic in
electrical activity [64,65]. These data are consistent with
region of the rat and mouse also express Per1 and c-fos
VIP acting as a signal that maintains the phase relation-
following light exposure [30,31,41]. When microinjected to
ship among clock cells.
the SCN, alone or in a peptide cocktail, GRP produces
phase shifts in locomotor activity rhythms that mimic
those produced by light exposure [55,56]. Similarly, when The slow arpeggio of rhythmic expression
applied to the SCN in vitro, GRP produces photic-like Cells in the SCN shell have a specific spatial arrangement.
phase shifts [57]. Microinjections of GRP lead to transient Daily rhythmic expression of Per1, Per2 and VP does not
phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and induce expression of c-fos, occur in all cells simultaneously, but rather spreads and
Per1 and Per2 in the cap cells above the CalB cluster in the recedes through the SCN similar to water over a tidal
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Review TRENDS in Neurosciences Vol.28 No.3 March 2005 149
basin [34]. In hamsters this is detected in the rostral components and their connections. An analogous conun-
half of the SCN, where the shell occupies a much larger drum occurs in trying to understand functions of cortical
area of the coronal SCN than it does at the level of the interneurons. When classified according to spontaneous
CalB-expressing subregion. Rhythmic expression of Per1, electrical activity and morphology, 14 types of cortical
Per2 and VP starts in a small group of cells located interneurons can be identified. However, when the
adjacent to the third ventricle in the extreme dorsomedial functions of these interneurons are examined, these 14
SCN and spreads ventrolaterally over 4–8 h. It then types collapse into three functional classes [66]. Similarly,
recedes until expression is again limited to the dorso- although cells within the SCN can be described according
medial region [34]. The same pattern of expression has to their morphology, peptidergic phenotype, pattern of
been observed in vitro using transgenic mice in which gene expression, and spontaneous and induced electrical
luciferase reports Per1 expression [17]. The circadian activity, understanding their function will expand our
phase of individual cells can be tracked over multiple understanding of their role in the circadian network.
circadian cycles using this preparation. Expression Several distinct functions can be assigned to cells in the
initially occurs in the dorsomedial periventricular SCN SCN network, including input cells that gate photic
and spreads slowly to the ventral SCN over several hours. information and rhythmic cells that are endogenous
Blocking protein synthesis or electrical activity reveals oscillators. A recently identified population of light-
functional aspects of SCN organization. Because the inducible cap cells that expresses a circadian rhythm
intracellular clock is driven by an autoregulatory tran- driven by the retina forms a third compartment that is
scription–translation feedback loop, individual clocks can liable to have a novel function. It is likely that other
all be reset to a common phase by a protein synthesis aspects of the network remain to be identified.
inhibitor. When the inhibitor is removed, cells begin to
oscillate in phase with one another, but re-establish
their original phase relationships after several cycles The next concerto: questions for the future
(Figure 4). Furthermore, maintaining this phase relation- The SCN is not simply a collection of 20 000 clock cells;
ship requires electrical signaling, either between indi- rather, it is a heterogeneous structure composed of
vidual cells or between the core and the shell. When action multiple functional compartments. A new era of work
potentials are blocked with tetrodotoxin, circadian pat- examining gene expression patterns has highlighted the
terns of luminescence in individual cells persist but the spatial heterogeneity that reflects underlying functional
system as a whole becomes desynchronized [17]. These heterogeneity. As each of these separate cell types is
data reveal that, although individual cells within the SCN investigated further, a picture of how they work together
can sustain oscillations, the specific phases of such to produce a unified output will emerge. Key to under-
oscillations are regulated by the network properties of standing the arrangements of the SCN will be determin-
the SCN. ing the nature of communication among its neurons.
Given the spatial pattern of rhythmic expression observed
in the SCN shell [17,34], it will be important to determine
Assembling a symphony from its movements: whether all oscillator cells are equivalent, or whether
conclusions and integrations signals from distinct input regions of the SCN reach only a
The circadian system has become a model for under- subset of the oscillator cells. Beyond understanding how
standing neural regulation of complex behaviors. The the individual components of the SCN are arranged to pro-
SCN epitomizes localization of function, but understand- duce a coherent daily output, it will be essential to under-
ing how it functions requires understanding of its different stand how this information is communicated to peripheral
2000
CHX 36 h
1500
Luminescence
(counts h–1)
1000
500
0
02 44 87 29 6 120 144 168 192 216
Time (h)
Figure 4. Resetting and reorganizing the synchrony of cell rhythm using cycloheximide (CHX). Recording of bioluminescence of representative individual cells (inset; scale
bar, 100 mm). Each cell has a characteristic bioluminescence signal with a specific phase relationship with respect to the other cells. Bioluminescence and circadian
rhythmicity is lost during application of CHX. Following removal of CHX, bioluminescence rhythms reappear. The peaks are initially in phase but gradually resume their pre-
treatment phase relationships. Modified, with permission, from Ref. [17] q (2003) AAAS (http://www.sciencemag.org).
www.sciencedirect.com
150 Review TRENDS in Neurosciences Vol.28 No.3 March 2005
oscillators and other targets in the body. SCN efferents 22 Mai, J.K. et al. (1991) Evidence for subdivisions in the human
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from the SCN is sufficient to maintain locomotor rhythms distribution. Neuroscience 13, 415–431
but not endocrine rhythms [68]. Understanding the roles 24 Moore, R.Y. et al. (2002) Suprachiasmatic nucleus organization. Cell
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standing how endogenous signals from the SCN are 25 Abrahamson, E.E. and Moore, R.Y. (2001) Suprachiasmatic nucleus in
the mouse: retinal innervation, intrinsic organization and efferent
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Acknowledgements 28 Antle, M.C. et al., (in press) Signaling within the brain’s master
This work was supported by NIH grant NS37919 (R.S.) and by a clock: localized activation of MAP kinase by gastrin-releasing peptide.
fellowship from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (M.C.A.). J. Neurosci.
29 LeSauter, J. et al. (2002) Calbindin-D(28K) cells selectively contact
intra-SCN neurons. Neuroscience 111, 575–585
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