Circadian clock genes in reproductive tissues and the developing conceptus
Hamid Dolatshad A C , Fred C. Davis A and Martin H. Johnson B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
B Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, The Anatomy School and Centre for Trophoblast Research, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK.
C Corresponding author. Email: hd241@cantab.net
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 21(1) 1-9 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD08223
Published: 9 December 2008
Abstract
The circadian (near 24-h) clock is involved in the temporal organisation of physiological and biochemical activities of many organisms, including humans. The clock functions through the rhythmic transcription and translation of several genes, forming an oscillatory feedback loop. Genetic analysis has shown that the circadian clock exists in both a central circadian pacemaker (i.e. the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus), as well as in most peripheral tissues. In particular, the circadian clockwork genes are expressed in all female and male reproductive tissues studied so far, as well as in the conceptus itself. The current data clearly show a robust rhythm in female reproductive tissues, but whether rhythmicity also exists in male reproductive tissues remains uncertain. Although the conceptus also expresses most of the canonical circadian genes, the rhythmicity of their expression is still under investigation. Published data indicate that environmental and genetic manipulations influence reproductive function and fecundity, suggesting an important role for the circadian clock in reproduction, and possibly early development.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Michael H. Hastings and Elizabeth S. Maywood for Luciferase data collection and helpful comments. H.D. and M.H.J. acknowledge support from the Wellcome Trust (No. 064588/Z/01 to M.H.J. and M.H. Hastings).
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