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Regulation of reproduction by the circadian rhythms

ZHANG Wen-Xiang, CHEN Si-Yu, LIU Chang^*

Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology and College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China

Abstract

Mammals synchronize their circadian activity primarily to the cycles of light and darkness in the environment. Circadian rhythm is controlled by the central clock in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the peripheral clocks in various tissues. More importantly, the central clock can integrate photic/nonphotic signals to generate rhythmic outputs, and then drive the slave oscillators in peripheral tissues through neuroendocrine and behavioral signals. Human reproductive activities, as some other physiological functions, are controlled by the biological clocks. Accumulating lines of epidemiological and genetic evidence indicate that disruption of circadian clock can be directly involved in multiple pathological processes, including infertility. In this review, we mainly discuss the presence of a circadian clock in reproductive tissues and its roles in follicles development, ovulation, spermatogenesis, fertilization and embryo implantation, etc. As the increased shift work and assisted reproductive technologies possibly disrupt circadian rhythmicity to impact reproduction, the importance of circadian rhythms should be highlighted in the regulation of reproductive process.

Key words: circadian rhythms; reproduction; fertility

Received: 2016-04-26　　Accepted: 2016-06-29

Corresponding author: 刘畅　　E-mail: changliu@njnu.edu.cn

Citing This Article：

ZHANG Wen-Xiang, CHEN Si-Yu, LIU Chang. Regulation of reproduction by the circadian rhythms. Acta Physiol Sin 2016; 68 (6): 799-808 (in Chinese with English abstract).