Preservation of light signaling to the suprachiasmatic nucleus in vitamin A-deficient mice

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Sep 25;98(20):11708-13. doi: 10.1073/pnas.201301498. Epub 2001 Sep 18.

Abstract

To investigate the role of retinal-based pigments (opsins) in circadian photoreception in mice, animals mutated in plasma retinol binding protein were placed on a vitamin A-free diet and tested for photic induction of gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. After 10 months on the vitamin A-free diet, the majority of mice contained no detectable retinal in their eyes. These mice demonstrated fully intact photic signaling to the suprachiasmatic nucleus as measured by acute mPer mRNA induction in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in response to bright or dim light. The data suggest that a non-opsin pigment is the primary circadian photoreceptor in the mouse.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • Female
  • Homozygote
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / physiology*
  • Reference Values
  • Retinaldehyde / physiology
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins / deficiency
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / physiology
  • Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / physiopathology*
  • Time Factors
  • Vitamin A Deficiency / physiopathology*

Substances

  • Retinol-Binding Proteins
  • Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma
  • Retinaldehyde