Physiological role of SCN micro-circuit on circadian clock

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The glutamatergic neurotransmission in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) plays a central role in the entrainment of the circadian rhythms to environmental light-dark cycles. Although the glutamatergic effect operating via NMDAR is well elucidated, much less is known about a role of AMPAR in circadian entrainment. Here I show that in vivo microinjection of AMPA in the SCN during the early subjective night phase-delays the behavioral rhythm. These data demonstrate that activation of AMPAR is capable of phase-shifting the circadian clock both in vivo and in vitro, and are consistent with the hypothesis that activation of AMPA receptors is a critical step in the transmission of photic information to the SCN.