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Small-World Network Models Of Intercellular Coupling Predict Enhanced Synchronization In The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Christina Vasalou, Erik D. Herzog, Michael A. Henson
Small-World Network Models Of Intercellular Coupling Predict Enhanced Synchronization In The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Christina Vasalou, Erik D. Herzog, Michael A. Henson
Michael A Henson
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is a multioscillator system that drives daily rhythms in mammalian behavior and physiology. Based on recent data implicating vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) as the key intercellular synchronizing agent, we developed a multicellular SCN model to investigate the effects of cellular heterogeneity and intercellular connectivity on circadian behavior. A 2-dimensional grid was populated with 400 model cells that were heterogeneous with respect to their uncoupled rhythmic behavior (intrinsic and damped pacemakers with a range of oscillation periods) and VIP release characteristics (VIP producers and nonproducers). We constructed small-world network architectures in which local connections …