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Clock Gene Expression in Adult Primate Suprachiasmatic Nuclei and Adrenal: Is the Adrenal a Peripheral Clock Responsive to Melatonin?
- Source :
- ENDOCRINOLOGY, Artículos CONICYT, CONICYT Chile, instacron:CONICYT
- Publication Year :
- 2008
- Publisher :
- The Endocrine Society, 2008.
-
Abstract
- The circadian production of glucocorticoids involves the concerted action of several factors that eventually allow an adequate adaptation to the environment. Circadian rhythms are controlled by the circadian timing system that comprises peripheral oscillators and a central rhythm generator located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, driven by the self-regulatory interaction of a set of proteins encoded by genes named clock genes. Here we describe the phase relationship between the SCN and adrenal gland for the expression of selected core clock transcripts (Per-2, Bmal-1) in the adult capuchin monkey, a New World, diurnal nonhuman primate. In the SCN we found a higher expression of Bmal-1 during the h of darkness (2000–0200 h) and Per-2 during daytime h (1400 h). The adrenal gland expressed clock genes in oscillatory fashion, with higher values for Bmal-1 during the day (1400–2000 h), whereas Per-2 was higher at nighttime (about 0200 h), resulting in a 9- to 12-h antiphase pattern. In the adrenal gland, the oscillation of clock genes was accompanied by rhythmic expression of a functional output, the steroidogenic enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Furthermore, we show that adrenal explants maintained oscillatory expression of Per-2 and Bmal-1 for at least 36 h in culture. The acrophase of both transcripts, but not its overall expression along the incubation, was blunted by 100 nm melatonin. Altogether, these results demonstrate oscillation of clock genes in the SCN and adrenal gland of a diurnal primate and support an oscillation of clock genes in the adrenal gland that may be modulated by the neurohormone melatonin.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases
Biology
Melatonin
Endocrinology
Cryptochrome
Internal medicine
Adrenal Glands
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
medicine
Animals
Cebus
RNA, Messenger
Circadian rhythm
Oscillating gene
Flavoproteins
Suprachiasmatic nucleus
Adrenal gland
ARNTL Transcription Factors
Circadian Rhythm
Cryptochromes
CLOCK
medicine.anatomical_structure
Gene Expression Regulation
Light effects on circadian rhythm
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 19457170 and 00137227
- Volume :
- 149
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Endocrinology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....6d29f074f20f8d098bb5e3babab061c8