Direct retinal projections to GRP neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the rat

The retinal projections to gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP)-expressing neurons in the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) were investigated by double immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. Optic nerve terminals labeled by cholera toxin B subunit (CTb) which was transported from the retinal ganglion cells were intermingled with GRP-immunoreactive cell bodies and processes in the ventrolateral portion of the SCN. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that CTb-immunoreactive retinal terminals made synaptic contacts with GRP-immunoreactive dendritic processes. These results demonstrated that photic information is directly input from the optic nerve to GRP neurons in the SCN and these GRP neurons may be involved in circadian entrainment by light.