Circadian clock neurons mediate time-of-day dependent responses to light

Circadian (~24 h) rhythms influence nearly all aspects of physiology, including sleep/wake, metabolism, and hormone release. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) synchronizes these daily rhythms to the external light cycle, but the mechanisms by which this occurs is unclear. The neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is the predominant contributor to synchrony within the SCN and is important for circadian light responses, but the role of VIP neurons themselves is unclear. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that rhythmic SCN VIP neurons mediate circadian light responses. Using in vivo fiber photometry recording of SCN VIP neurons we found daily rhythms in spontaneous calcium events that peaked during the subjective day and in light-evoked calcium events that exhibited the greatest response around subjective dusk. These rhythms were correlated with spontaneous and NMDA-evoked VIP release from SCN VIP neurons in vitro. Finally, in vivo hyperpolarization of VIP neurons attenuated light-induced shifts of daily rhythms in locomotion. We conclude that SCN VIP neurons are circadian and depolarize to light to modulate entrainment of daily rhythms in the SCN and behavior.