Figure 3.

A, Cadmium blocks voltage-dependent calcium currents in SCN 2.2 cells. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of a ramp current in a SCN2.2 cell before and after bath application of 15 μm cadmium. Cadmium disrupts the rhythms of rPer2 (B) and rBmal1 (C) expression in SCN2.2 cells. Temporal profiles of rPer2 and rBmal1 mRNA expression in control and cadmium-treated SCN2.2 cells (n = 3). Symbols denote the ratios of rPer2 and rBmal1/CypA mRNA signal. Asterisks indicate significant differences between peak rPer2 or rBmal1 expression and that observed during preceding or succeeding minima (p < 0.05).