Acute knockdown of Kv4.1 decreases A-type K+ currents (IA) in SCN neurons during the day and at night. A–D, Representative whole-cell Kv current recordings, obtained during the day (ZT7–ZT12) or at night (ZT19–ZT24) from eGFP-positive SCN neurons in acute slices prepared from adult animals 14–30 d following injections of the nontargeted shRNA-expressing (A, C) or the Kv4.1-targeted shRNA-expressing (B, D) AAV8, are shown. Whole-cell Kv currents, evoked during (2 s) voltage steps to potentials ranging from −40 to +30 mV (in 10-mV increments) from a holding potential of −70 mV, were recorded from nontargeted shRNA- and Kv4.1-targeted shRNA-expressing SCN neurons during the day (A1–B1) and at night (C1–D1). A second voltage-clamp paradigm, that included a brief (60 ms) prepulse to −10 mV to inactivate IA, was then presented, and whole-cell Kv currents in each cell were recorded again (A2–D2). The voltage-clamp paradigms are illustrated (light gray) below the current records. Digital offline subtraction of the recordings with the prepulse (A2–D2) from those without the prepulse (A1–D1) isolated IA (A3–D3); the subtracted records are also shown on an expanded time scale. E, IA densities at each test potential in each cell were calculated and mean ± SEM values are plotted as a function of test potential. F, Mean ± SEM IA densities at +30 mV were significantly lower in Kv4.1-targeted shRNA-expressing (n = 10–27), than in nontargeted shRNA-expressing (n = 8–10) SCN neurons during the day and at night; p values (one-way ANOVA) are indicated. G, The activation curves for Kv4.1-targeted shRNA-expressing SCN neurons (open red squares, n = 8) and nontargeted shRNA-expressing SCN neurons (open black squares, n = 12) are not significantly (p = 0.052, Student’s t test) different (V1/2 = −1.8 ± 3.2 mV, k = 13.5 ± 1.1 and −9.3 mV ± 1.3 mV, k = 12.7 ± 0.8, respectively). The inactivation curves plotted as the mean ± SEM normalized current for Kv4.1-targeted shRNA-expressing (filled red squares, n = 8) and nontargeted shRNA-expressing (filled black squares, n = 12) SCN neurons are also shown. The inactivation curve for Kv4.1-targeted shRNA-expressing SCN neurons (V1/2 = −60.3 mV ± 1.7 mV and k = 7.0 ± 0.6) is not significantly (p > 0.05, Student’s t test) different from the nontargeted shRNA-expressing SCN neurons (V1/2 = −59.4 mV ± 2.1 mV and k = 7.9 ± 0.7).