Circadian rhythms regulate nearly every biological process in our body. In mammals, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a master circadian pacemaker composed of functionally and peptidergically diverse populations of cells each of which is an autonomous oscillator.
The SCN network is important for synchronization among SCN neuronal oscillators to maintain a uniform and robust molecular circadian rhythm.
Circadian rhythm of PER2::LUC bioluminescence recorded from cultured mouse SCN neurons over a period of several days, showing that SCN neuron oscillations follow a complex, consistent pattern of distinct phases and amplitudes.