Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) phase-shifts the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus clock in vitro.

Abstract In mammals, the principal circadian pacemaker is housed in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN). The SCN exhibit high levels of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) immunoreactivity and two of the three VIP receptors, VPAC2 and PAC1, are found in the rat SCN. However, the role of VIP in the SCN remains unclear. In this study, we examined the phase-resetting actions of VIP and selective VIP receptor agonists on the electrical activity rhythm of rat SCN neurons in vitro. Application of VIP during the subjective day did not shift the peak in the firing rate rhythm. However, VIP treatment during the early or late subjective night evoked a small phase delay or a large phase advance, respectively. The phase-advancing effect of VIP was reproduced by the novel VPAC2 receptor agonist RO 25-1553, but not by pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (a potent PAC1 receptor agonist), or by [K15,R16,L27]VIP(1-7)/GRF(8-27), a novel, selective VPAC1 receptor agonist. These data show that VIP phase-dependently phase-resets the rodent SCN pacemaker in vitro, presumably via the VPAC2 receptor. As the pattern of phase-shifting evoked by VIP and RO 25-1553 resembles the phase-resetting actions of light on rodent behavioural rhythms, these data support a role for VIP and the VPAC2 receptor in photic entrainment of the rodent circadian pacemaker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]