Grafting fetal suprachiasmatic nuclei in the hypothalamus of old hamsters restores responsiveness of the circadian clock to a phase shifting stimulus

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(94)90044-2

Brain Research

Volume 643, Issues 1–2, 18 April 1994, Pages 338-342

https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(94)90044-2 Get rights and content

Abstract

In the present study, 18–25-month-old hamsters free-running in constant dim light were injected, both before and after receiving fetal grafts containing either cerebellar tissue or the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), with a dose of triazolam given at a time known to reliably phase shift the rhythm of locomotor activity in young hamsters. SCN-grafted animals, but not control animals implanted with fetal cerebellar tissue, showed a sifnificantly greater response to the phase shifting effects of triazolam, demonstrating that at least some age-related changes in the circadian system can be reversed by neuronal transplantation. These results raise the possibility that neuropharmacological interventions that can simulate the effects of fetal SCN grafts might be useful in the treatment of age-related disorders in circadian function.

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: This research was supported by NIH Grants AG-09297, AG-10870, HD-28048 and the National Science Foundation and the Belgian FRSM.

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Grafting fetal suprachiasmatic nuclei in the hypothalamus of old hamsters restores responsiveness of the circadian clock to a phase shifting stimulus

Abstract

Brain Res.

Exp. Gerontol.

Brain Res.

Brain Res.

Neurobiol. Aging

Brain Res.

Neural Grafting in the Mamalian CNS

Chronobiology and aging

JAGS

Serotonin and mammalian circadian system: II. Phase-shifting rat behavioral rhythms with serotoninergic agonists

J. Biol. Rhythms

Dark pulses affect the circadian rhythm of activity in hamsters kept in constant light

Am. J. Physiol.

Aged rats: recovery of motor impairments by intrastriatal nigral grafts

Science

Graft induced behavioral recovery in an animal model of Huntington's disease