Localization of a suprachiasmatic nucleus subregion regulating locomotor rhythmicity

The bilaterally symmetrical suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus are the loci of the mammalian clock controlling circadian rhythms. Previous studies suggested that all regions of the SCN are equipotential as circadian rhythmicity is sustained after partial ablation, as long as approximately 25% of the nuclei are spared. In contrast to these results, we found that animals bearing partial lesions of the SCN that spared the subregion delimited by cells containing the calcium-binding protein calbindin-D28K (CaBP), sustained circadian locomotor rhythms. Furthermore, there was a correlation between the strength of the rhythm and the number of spared CaBP cells. Partial lesions that destroyed this region but spared other compartments of the SCN resulted in loss of rhythmicity. The next study indicates that transplants of half-SCN grafts that contain CaBP cells restore locomotor rhythms in SCN-lesioned host animals, whereas transplants containing SCN tissue but lacking cells of this subnucleus fail to restore rhythmicity. Finally, there was a correlation between the number of CaBP-positive cells in the graft and the strength of the restored rhythm. Taken together, the results indicate that pacemakers in the region of the CaBP subnucleus are necessary and sufficient for the control of locomotor rhythmicity and that the SCN is functionally heterogeneous.