The physiological period length of the human circadian clock in vivo is directly proportional to period in human fibroblasts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Diurnal behavior in humans is governed by the period length of a circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the brain hypothalamus. Nevertheless, the cell-intrinsic mechanism of this clock is present in most cells of the body. We have shown previously that for individuals of extreme chronotype ("larks" and "owls"), clock properties measured in human fibroblasts correlated with extreme diurnal behavior.

Methodology/principal findings

In this study, we have measured circadian period in human primary fibroblasts taken from normal individuals and, for the first time, compared it directly with physiological period measured in vivo in the same subjects. Human physiological period length was estimated via the secretion pattern of the hormone melatonin in two differ

SUBMITTER: Pagani L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2958564 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature