Photic entrainment and induction of immediate-early genes within the rat circadian system

Immediate-early genes (IEGs) are transiently expressed within the rodent circadian system in response to nocturnal light. The two most studied light-induced IEGs within this system are Fos and Jun-B. Molecular expression of these two genes within the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) correlates with light-induced behavioral phase shifts. Previous studies of the role of Fos and Jun-B in circadian clock resetting have used light stimuli that induce strong phase shifts. However, the relationship of Fos and Jun-B expression in the SCN and light-induced phase shifts in an entrainment context is undocumented in rats. In this study, male rats for which the free running period was determined were entrained to a 0.5 h:23.5 h LD cycle. On the fifteenth day of stable entrainment, the entraining light pulse was reduced to 10 min. Animals were killed 50 min later and brains were processed for IEG immunocytochemistry. Strong Fos induction was observed in the SCN and the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL). Strong Jun-B immunoreactivity was observed only in the SCN whereas Jun-B labeling in the IGL was weak. Significant correlations were obtained between the magnitude of light-induced IEGs in the SCN and the magnitude of the daily phase shift required for stable entrainment to the 0.5 h:23.5 h LD cycle. Further, a significant correlation was observed between the number of Fos and Jun-B immunoreactive cells in the SCN and IGL. These data suggest that the magnitude of Fos and Jun-B induction within the SCN is related to the magnitude of the daily phase shift required for stable entrainment.