Monitoring the Energy Metabolisms of Mice with the Suprachiasmatic Nuclei Lesioned

Abstract

The central clock in mammals is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which coordinates daily biological and behavioral rhythms. Lesioning the SCN is commonly used as a model to disrupt the circadian clock, with significant impacts on organisms. This protocol describes the complete SCN lesion experiment, from surgery to verification. This technology involves using a stereotactic device to locate the brain area and damaging the mouse SCN via electrophysiological instruments, followed by observing the external effects on basal metabolism caused by the loss of rhythm. After surgical damage to the SCN, the mice are allowed to recover for a period before being placed in running wheels to record their activity rhythms. The loss of rhythm in the mice is judged by a 7-day LD environment (light:dark = 12:12) and a 7-day DD environment (continuous darkness). Mice with confirmed rhythm loss are selected for metabolic cage experiments. Following the experiments, the mice are euthanized, and the SCN sections are prepared and stained for confirmation, verifying that rhythm loss is caused by SCN damage. © 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Mouse suprachiasmatic nuclei lesions

Basic Protocol 2: Wheel-running tests, metabolic cage assays, SCN slicing and staining to confirm that SCN lesions induce rhythm loss.