| Title: | "Disrupted reproduction, estrous cycle, and circadian rhythms in female mice deficient in vasoactive intestinal peptide" |
| Author(s): | Loh DH; Kuljis DA; Azuma L; Wu Y; Truong D; Wang HB; Colwell CS; |
| Address: | "Laboratory of Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California-Los Angeles, California HLoh@ucla.edu. Laboratory of Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California-Los Angeles, California Department of Neurobiology, University of California-Los Angeles. Laboratory of Circadian and Sleep Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California-Los Angeles, California" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1552-4531 (Electronic) 0748-7304 (Print) 0748-7304 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The female reproductive cycle is gated by the circadian timing system and may be vulnerable to disruptions in the circadian system. Prior work suggests that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-expressing neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) are one pathway by which the circadian clock can influence the estrous cycle, but the impact of the loss of this peptide on reproduction has not been assessed. In the present study, we first examine the impact of the genetic loss of the neuropeptide VIP on the reproductive success of female mice. Significantly, mutant females produce about half the offspring of their wild-type sisters even when mated to the same males. We also find that VIP-deficient females exhibit a disrupted estrous cycle; that is, ovulation occurs less frequently and results in the release of fewer oocytes compared with controls. Circadian rhythms of wheel-running activity are disrupted in the female mutant mice, as is the spontaneous electrical activity of dorsal SCN neurons. On a molecular level, the VIP-deficient SCN tissue exhibits lower amplitude oscillations with altered phase relationships between the SCN and peripheral oscillators as measured by PER2-driven bioluminescence. The simplest explanation of our data is that the loss of VIP results in a weakened SCN oscillator, which reduces the synchronization of the female circadian system. These results clarify one of the mechanisms by which disruption of the circadian system reduces female reproductive success" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Circadian Rhythm/*physiology Estrous Cycle/*physiology Female Male Mice Mice, Inbred C57BL Motor Activity/physiology Neurons/metabolism/physiology Neuropeptides/metabolism Period Circadian Proteins/metabolism Reproduction/*physiology Suprachiasmat;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineLoh, D H Kuljis, D A Azuma, L Wu, Y Truong, D Wang, H B Colwell, C S eng T32 HD007228/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ T32 HD 07228-26/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2014/09/26 J Biol Rhythms. 2014 Oct; 29(5):355-69. doi: 10.1177/0748730414549767. Epub 2014 Sep 24" |
