Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
Prog Brain Res. 2012;199:41-57. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-59427-3.00003-4.
Our understanding of the molecular and cellular organization of the circadian timing system in vertebrates has increased enormously over the past decade. In large part, progress has been based on genetic studies in the mouse as well as on fundamental similarities between vertebrate and Drosophila clocks. The zebrafish was initially considered as a potentially attractive genetic model for identifying vertebrate clock genes. However, instead, fish have ultimately proven to be valuable complementary models for studying various aspects of clock biology. For example, many fish can shift from diurnal to nocturnal activity implying specific flexibility in their clock function. We have learned much about the function of light input pathways, and the ontogeny and function of the pineal organ, the fish central pacemaker. Finally, blind cavefish have also provided new insight into the evolution of the circadian clock under extreme environmental conditions.
在过去的十年中，我们对脊椎动物生物钟系统的分子和细胞组织的理解有了巨大的提高。在很大程度上，这一进展是基于小鼠的遗传研究以及脊椎动物和果蝇生物钟之间的基本相似性。斑马鱼最初被认为是一种潜在的有吸引力的遗传模型，可用于鉴定脊椎动物生物钟基因。然而，事实证明，鱼类最终是研究生物钟生物学各个方面的有价值的补充模型。例如，许多鱼类可以从白天活动转变为夜间活动，这意味着它们的生物钟功能具有特定的灵活性。我们已经了解了光输入途径的功能，以及松果体（鱼类中枢起搏器）的发生和功能。最后，盲眼洞穴鱼也为在极端环境条件下生物钟的进化提供了新的见解。
