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Li Y, Zhang H, Wang Y, Li D, Chen H. Advances in circadian clock regulation of reproduction. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2023; 137:83-133. [PMID: 37709382 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2023.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian circadian clock is an endogenously regulated oscillator that is synchronized with solar time and cycle within a 24-h period. The circadian clock exists not only in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, a central pacemaker of the circadian clock system, but also in numerous peripheral tissues known as peripheral circadian oscillators. The SCN and peripheral circadian oscillators mutually orchestrate the diurnal rhythms of various physiological and behavioral processes in a hierarchical manner. In the past two decades, peripheral circadian oscillators have been identified and their function has been determined in the mammalian reproductive system and its related endocrine glands, including the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovaries, testes, uterus, mammary glands, and prostate gland. Increasing evidence indicates that both the SCN and peripheral circadian oscillators play discrete roles in coordinating reproductive processes and optimizing fertility in mammals. The present study reviews recent evidence on circadian clock regulation of reproductive function in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and reproductive system. Additionally, we elucidate the effects of chronodisruption (as a result of, for example, shift work, jet lag, disrupted eating patterns, and sleep disorders) on mammalian reproductive performance from multiple aspects. Finally, we propose potential behavioral changes or pharmaceutical strategies for the prevention and treatment of reproductive disorders from the perspective of chronomedicine. Conclusively, this review will outline recent evidence on circadian clock regulation of reproduction, providing novel perspectives on the role of the circadian clock in maintaining normal reproductive functions and in diseases that negatively affect fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yating Li
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China
| | - Haisen Zhang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China
| | - Yiqun Wang
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China
| | - Huatao Chen
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China; Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China.
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Li Y, Xia G, Tan Y, Shuai J. Expression profile of circular RNAs in continuous light-induced ovarian dysfunction. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 242:113861. [PMID: 35835072 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to elucidate the underlying relationship between the expression profiles of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and the ovarian dysfunction induced by continuous light. METHODS High-throughput sequencing was used to profile the transcriptome of differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) in rat ovary under continuous light exposure (12 h:12 h light/light cycle, L/L group) and a control cycle (12 h:12 h light/dark cycle, L/D group). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and circRNAs-microRNAs-messenger RNAs networks were performed to predict the role of DEcircRNAs in biological processes and pathways. A quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay was conducted to verify the high-throughput sequencing results and the expression level of circadian rhythm genes. RESULTS In total, 305 circRNAs were differentially expressed between the L/L and L/D groups. Among these, 211 circRNAs were up regulated, while 94 were down regulated. Eight candidate circRNAs from 305 DEcircRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR. Further bioinformatics analysis revealed that interactions between DEcircRNAs and a set of microRNAs involved in ovarian dysfunction-related pathways, such as regulation of androgen receptors, gonadotrophin releasing hormone signaling pathway, endocrine resistance, etc. Subsequently, we identified rno_circ:chr2:86868285-86964272 and rno_circ:chr1:62330221-62360073 may participate in the pathophysiology of ovarian dysfunction by constructing circRNAs-microRNAs-messenger RNAs networks. Meanwhile, constant light reduced the expression of circadian rhythm genes CLOCK, BAML1, PER1, and PER2 compared with that of controls. Caspase3 and Bax were up regulated in the L/L group compared with the L/D group, while Bcl-2 was down regulated. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the results reveal that the expression profiles and potential functions of DEcircRNAs in rat ovaries may play important roles in continuous light-induced ovarian dysfunction. These findings provide novel clues and molecular targets for studying the mechanisms and clinical therapy of ovarian dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuling Li
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Guicheng Xia
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yong Tan
- Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China; Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China.
| | - Jiaqi Shuai
- Bachelor of Medicine, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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Caporossi L, Capanna S, Viganò P, Alteri A, Papaleo B. From Environmental to Possible Occupational Exposure to Risk Factors: What Role Do They Play in the Etiology of Endometriosis? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18020532. [PMID: 33440623 PMCID: PMC7826798 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18020532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder characterized by the presence of endometrial stroma and glands outside the uterine cavity. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to clarify, starting from environmental exposure data, whether possible occupational risk factors may correlate with the onset of the disease. The guidelines for reporting systematic reviews of the “PRISMA” statement were followed and two databases, Scopus and PubMed, were used. Of the 422 studies selected with specific keywords, 32 publications were eligible, 28 of which referred to chemical agents and 4 related to night work. Conflicting data emerged among these studies. Although some compounds seemed to be more involved than others in the onset of endometriosis. Association with exposure to organochlorine compounds is the most supported by the epidemiological data, while other pesticide exposure did not show any clear correlation. Likewise, the hypothesis of a correlation with perfluoroalkyls exposure is not currently supported by data. The involvement of metals as risk factors has not been confirmed, while the role of night work, in the case of long service, seems to play an etiological role. In order to clarify the potential occupational risk of endometriosis development, well-designed studies are needed to evaluate the potential association between chemical compounds and disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Caporossi
- INAIL, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy; (S.C.); (B.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Silvia Capanna
- INAIL, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy; (S.C.); (B.P.)
| | - Paola Viganò
- IRCCS San Raffele Scientific Institute, Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Unit, via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Alteri
- IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Bruno Papaleo
- INAIL, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy; (S.C.); (B.P.)
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Circadian regulation of endocrine systems. Auton Neurosci 2019; 216:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2018.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Abstract
Female ovulation depends on a surge in circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) which occurs at the end of the resting period and requests high circulating estradiol. This fine tuning involves both an estradiol feedback as an indicator of oocyte maturation, and the master circadian clock of the suprachiasmatic nuclei as an indicator of the time of the day. This review describes the mechanisms through which daily time cues are conveyed to reproductive hypothalamic neurons to time the pre-ovulatory surge. In female rodents, neurotransmitters released by the suprachiasmatic nuclei activate the stimulatory kisspeptin neurons and reduce the inhibitory RFRP neurons precisely at the end of the afternoon of proestrus to allow a full surge in LH secretion. From these findings, the impact of circadian disruptions (during shift or night work) on female reproductive performance and fertility should now being investigated in both animal models and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Simonneaux
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, UPR CNRS 3212, 5 rue Blaise Pascal, 67084 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Thibault Bahougne
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, UPR CNRS 3212, 5 rue Blaise Pascal, 67084 Strasbourg, France; Service d'Endocrinologie et Diabète, Hôpital Civil, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Eleni Angelopoulou
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, UPR CNRS 3212, 5 rue Blaise Pascal, 67084 Strasbourg, France; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
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Rocheleau CM, Bertke SJ, Lawson CC, Romitti PA, Desrosiers TA, Agopian A, Bell E, Gilboa SM. Factors associated with employment status before and during pregnancy: Implications for studies of pregnancy outcomes. Am J Ind Med 2017; 60:329-341. [PMID: 28299820 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Potential confounding or effect modification by employment status is frequently overlooked in pregnancy outcome studies. METHODS To characterize how employed and non-employed women differ, we compared demographics, behaviors, and reproductive histories by maternal employment status for 8,343 mothers of control (non-malformed) infants in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (1997-2007) and developed a multivariable model for employment status anytime during pregnancy and the 3 months before conception. RESULTS Sixteen factors were independently associated with employment before or during pregnancy, including: maternal age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, pregnancy intention, periconceptional/first trimester smoking and alcohol consumption, and household income. CONCLUSIONS Employment status was significantly associated with many common risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy outcome studies should consider adjustment or stratification by employment status. In studies of occupational exposures, these differences may cause uncontrollable confounding if non-employed women are treated as unexposed instead of excluded from analysis. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:329-341, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carissa M. Rocheleau
- Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Cincinnati Ohio
| | - Stephen J. Bertke
- Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Cincinnati Ohio
| | - Christina C. Lawson
- Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Cincinnati Ohio
| | - Paul A. Romitti
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health; The University of Iowa; Iowa City Iowa
| | - Tania A. Desrosiers
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health; University of North Carolina; Chapel Hill North Carolina
| | - A.J. Agopian
- Division of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health; University of Texas at Houston; Houston Texas
| | - Erin Bell
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health; The University at Albany-SUNY; Rensselaer North Carolina
| | - Suzanne M. Gilboa
- Division of Congenital and Developmental Disorders, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Atlanta Georgia
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Simonneaux V, Bahougne T. A Multi-Oscillatory Circadian System Times Female Reproduction. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2015; 6:157. [PMID: 26539161 PMCID: PMC4611855 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2015.00157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhythms in female reproduction are critical to insure that timing of ovulation coincides with oocyte maturation and optimal sexual arousal. This fine tuning of female reproduction involves both the estradiol feedback as an indicator of oocyte maturation, and the master circadian clock of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) as an indicator of the time of the day. Herein, we are providing an overview of the state of knowledge regarding the differential inhibitory and stimulatory effects of estradiol at different stages of the reproductive axis, and the mechanisms through which the two main neurotransmitters of the SCN, arginine vasopressin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide, convey daily time cues to the reproductive axis. In addition, we will report the most recent findings on the putative functions of peripheral clocks located throughout the reproductive axis [kisspeptin (Kp) neurons, gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons, gonadotropic cells, the ovary, and the uterus]. This review will point to the critical position of the Kp neurons of the anteroventral periventricular nucleus, which integrate both the stimulatory estradiol signal, and the daily arginine vasopressinergic signal, while displaying a circadian clock. Finally, given the critical role of the light/dark cycle in the synchronization of female reproduction, we will discuss the impact of circadian disruptions observed during shift-work conditions on female reproductive performance and fertility in both animal model and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Simonneaux
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS (UPR 3212), Strasbourg, France
- *Correspondence: Valérie Simonneaux, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS (UPR 3212), 5 rue Blaise Pascal, Strasbourg 67084, France,
| | - Thibault Bahougne
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, CNRS (UPR 3212), Strasbourg, France
- Service d’Endocrinologie et Diabète, Hôpital Civil, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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Watson NF, Buchwald D, Harden KP. A twin study of genetic influences on diurnal preference and risk for alcohol use outcomes. J Clin Sleep Med 2013; 9:1333-9. [PMID: 24340296 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.3282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The population-based University of Washington Twin Registry (UWTR) was used to examine (1) genetic influences on chronobiology and (2) whether these genetic factors influence alcohol-use phenotypes. METHODS We used a reduced Horne-Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ) to survey UWTR participants for diurnal preference. Frequency and quantity of alcohol use, as well as binge drinking (6+ drinks per occasion), were assessed on a 5-point Likert scale. Both diurnal preference and alcohol use were self-reported. Twin data were analyzed by using structural equation models. RESULTS The sample consisted of 2,945 participants (mean age = 36.4 years), including 1,127 same-sex and opposite-sex twin pairs and 691 individual twins. The rMEQ range was 4-25, with a mean score of 15.3 (SD 4.0). Diurnal "morning types" comprised 30.7% (N = 903) of participants, while 17.4% (N = 513) were "evening types." Regarding alcohol use, 21.2% (N = 624) reported never drinking. Among drinkers, 35.7% (N = 829) reported ≥ 3 drinks per occasion and 48.1% (N = 1,116) reported at least one instance of binge drinking. Genetic influences accounted for 37% of the variance in diurnal preference, with the remaining 63% due to non-shared environmental influences. Genetic propensities toward diurnal eveningness were significantly associated with increased alcohol quantity (β = -0.17; SE = 0.05, p < 0.001) and increased binge drinking (β = -0.19; SE = 0.04, p < 0.001), but not with frequency of alcohol use. Environmental paths between diurnal preference and alcohol use phenotypes were not significant. CONCLUSIONS Genetic influences on diurnal preference confer elevated risk for problematic alcohol use, including increased quantity and binge drinking. Differences in circadian rhythm may be an important and understudied pathway of risk for genetic influences on alcohol use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel F Watson
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA ; University of Washington Medicine Sleep Center, Seattle, WA ; University of Washington Twin Registry, Seattle, WA
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Gamble KL, Resuehr D, Johnson CH. Shift work and circadian dysregulation of reproduction. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2013; 4:92. [PMID: 23966978 PMCID: PMC3736045 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2013.00092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Health impairments, including reproductive issues, are associated with working nights or rotating shifts. For example, shift work has been associated with an increased risk of irregular menstrual cycles, endometriosis, infertility, miscarriage, low birth weight or pre-term delivery, and reduced incidence of breastfeeding. Based on what is known about circadian regulation of endocrine rhythms in rodents (and much less in humans), the circadian clock is an integral regulatory part of the reproductive system. When this 24-h program is disordered by environmental perturbation (such as shift work) or genetic alterations, the endocrine system can be impaired. The purpose of this review is to explore the hypothesis that misalignment of reproductive hormones with the environmental light-dark cycle and/or sleep-wake rhythms can disrupt menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and parturition. We highlight the role of the circadian clock in regulating human reproductive physiology and shift work-induced pathology within each step of the reproductive axis while exploring potential mechanisms from the animal model literature. In addition to documenting the reproductive hazards of shift work, we also point out important gaps in our knowledge as critical areas for future investigation. For example, future studies should examine whether forced desynchronization disrupts gonadotropin secretion rhythms and whether there are sleep/wake schedules that are better or worse for the adaptation of the reproductive system to shift work. These studies are necessary in order to define not only whether or not shift work-induced circadian misalignment impairs reproductive capacity, but also to identify strategies for the future that can minimize this desynchronization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L. Gamble
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - David Resuehr
- Department of Cell and Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Carl Hirschie Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- *Correspondence: Carl Hirschie Johnson, Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, 465 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37235, USA e-mail:
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Bonzini M, Palmer KT, Coggon D, Carugno M, Cromi A, Ferrario MM. Shift work and adverse pregnancy outcomes: comments on a recent meta-analysis. BJOG 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2011.03212.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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