Human Suprachiasmatic Nucleus as Pacemaker of Circadian Rhythms

Abstract

The aim of our study is to investigate the normal distribution of some neuropeptide-containing neurons in the human suprachiasmatic nucleus (SNC). The neuropeptides as vasopressin (VP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neurotensin (NT), neuropeptide Y (NPY) are implicated in functions of SNC. VIP-neurons are more evident in the ventrolateral part of SNC, VP-neurons are more in the dorsomedial subdivision, NT overlap each of the groups noted above and NPY are more in the central part of SCN.