biostudies-literatureDean TNICHD NIH HHSHHS | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeHHS | NIH | Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human DevelopmentNINDS NIH HHSDC-IDDRCENEURO.0110-22.2022https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9536852biostudies-literatureUnknown9(5)The molecular circadian clock can be found throughout the body and is essential for the synchronizing cellular physiology with the 24 h day. However, the role of the clock in regulating the regenerative potential of the brain has not been explored. We report here that murine NG2-glia, the largest population of proliferative cells in the mature central nervous system, rhythmically express circadian clock genes in a 24 h period, including the critical clock component <i>Bmal1</i> RNA and BMAL1 protein. Interestingly, daily NG2-glia proliferation preferentially occurs during the time of day in which <i>Bmal1</i> expression is high, while conditional knockout of <i>Bmal1</i> decreases both cortical NG2-glia density and cellular proliferation. Furthermore, in a neurotrauma model, we show that peNeuroEndogenous Circadian Clock Machinery in Cortical NG2-Glia Regulates Cellular Proliferation.PMC9536852R37NS109478P50 HD105328R37 NS109478DC-IDDRC U54HD090257 and P50HD105328K12HD001399U54 HD090257K12 HD001399Dean TKoffi AVGoldstein EGhaemmaghami JGallo VfalseEndogenous Circadian Clock Machinery in Cortical NG2-Glia Regulates Cellular Proliferation.The molecular circadian clock can be found throughout the body and is essential for the synchronizing cellular physiology with the 24 h day. However, the role of the clock in regulating the regenerative potential of the brain has not been explored. We report here that murine NG2-glia, the largest population of proliferative cells in the mature central nervous system, rhythmically express circadian clock genes in a 24 h period, including the critical clock component <i>Bmal1</i> RNA and BMAL1 protein. Interestingly, daily NG2-glia proliferation preferentially occurs during the time of day in which <i>Bmal1</i> expression is high, while conditional knockout of <i>Bmal1</i> decreases both cortical NG2-glia density and cellular proliferation. Furthermore, in a neurotrauma model, we show that p2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Sep-Oct2026-06-12T03:24:09.983Z2025-02-19T03:22:51.773ZS-EPMC95368523612311610.1523/ENEURO.0110-22.2022