This study aimed at identifying rhythmically regulated transcripts in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of mice. Punch biopsies of the VTA from C57BL/6 brain slices were prepared at 6 different timepoints across the day and analyzed for transcriptome regulation Overall design: n = 4 per time point; 4-hour intervals starting at ZT0 (= "lights on") in a 12-hour light: 12-hour dark (LD) cycle; male C57BL/6N mice of 10-12 weeks of age were used; brains were sliced at 0.5 mm thickness and micropunches (diameter 0.5 mm) isolated for total RNA isolation, cRNA conversion and microarray habridization