ALTHOUGH the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) have been intensively analyz
ed, they contain a population of cells that has not yet been character
ized. In this study, we examined the distribution of cells immunoreact
ive (ir) for calbindin-D-28K (CaBP), calretinin (CR), parvalbumin, vas
opressin-associated neurophysin (NP), substance P (SP), vasoactive int
estinal peptide (VIP), and light-induced Fos-like protein. Previously
unidentified cells in the core of the hamster SCN contained CaBP. Phot
ic stimulation during the night induced Fos expression in about 75% of
the CaBP-positive SCN cells, and about 50% of the Fos-positive cells
in the core region expressed CaBP. These findings provide new informat
ion in the search for the cellular localization of pacemaker cells in
the SCN, as photic input entrains the circadian system, and cells that
receive photic input must be either part of the clock itself, or an u
pstream component of the clock.