Generation of circadian rhythms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) contains about 10,000 neurons on each side of the third ventricle and serves as the principal circadian clock in mammals.

• The SCN regulates daily cycles of behavior and physiology that influence life's tempo.
• Its autonomous timing mechanism can persist indefinitely when isolated in organotypic culture.
• Cell-autonomous feedback loops drive circadian activity within the SCN, demonstrating genetic control over complex behaviors.
• Recent advances are revealing circuit-level mechanisms and properties that enhance the precision and robustness of the SCN as a clock.
• Astrocytes have been identified as integral components of the SCN's timing mechanisms, challenging the traditional view of the SCN as solely a neuronal clock.

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