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.
Sheng Li Xue Bao. 2016 Dec 25;68(6):799-808.
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.
哺乳动物主要将其昼夜活动与环境中的光暗周期同步。昼夜节律由下丘脑视交叉上核（SCN）中的中央时钟和各种组织中的外周时钟控制。更重要的是，中央时钟可以整合光信号/非光信号以产生节律性输出，然后通过神经内分泌和行为信号驱动外周组织中的从属振荡器。人类生殖活动与其他一些生理功能一样，受生物钟控制。越来越多的流行病学和遗传学证据表明，生物钟的破坏可能直接参与包括不孕症在内的多种病理过程。在这篇综述中，我们主要讨论生殖组织中生物钟的存在及其在卵泡发育、排卵、精子发生、受精和胚胎着床等过程中的作用。由于轮班工作的增加和辅助生殖技术可能会破坏昼夜节律从而影响生殖，因此在生殖过程的调节中应突出昼夜节律的重要性。
