CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Portugal.
CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Portugal; UDI-IPG, Unidade de Investigação para o Desenvolvimento do Interior, Instituto Politécnico da Guarda, Guarda, Portugal.
Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol. 2023;137:39-81. doi: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2023.03.004. Epub 2023 Apr 19.
Molecular clocks are responsible for defining 24-h cycles of behaviour and physiology that are called circadian rhythms. Several structures and tissues are responsible for generating these circadian rhythms and are named circadian clocks. The suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus is believed to be the master circadian clock receiving light input via the optic nerve and aligning internal rhythms with environmental cues. Studies using both in vivo and in vitro methodologies have reported the relationship between the molecular clock and sex hormones. The circadian system is directly responsible for controlling the synthesis of sex hormones and this synthesis varies according to the time of day and phase of the estrous cycle. Sex hormones also directly interact with the circadian system to regulate circadian gene expression, adjust biological processes, and even adjust their own synthesis. Several diseases have been linked with alterations in either the sex hormone background or the molecular clock. So, in this chapter we aim to summarize the current understanding of the relationship between the circadian system and sex hormones and their combined role in the onset of several related diseases.
分子钟负责定义行为和生理学的 24 小时周期，这些周期被称为昼夜节律。几个结构和组织负责产生这些昼夜节律，并被命名为生物钟。下丘脑的视交叉上核被认为是主生物钟，通过视神经接收光输入，并使内部节律与环境线索保持一致。使用体内和体外方法学的研究报告了分子钟与性激素之间的关系。昼夜节律系统直接负责控制性激素的合成，这种合成根据一天中的时间和发情周期的阶段而变化。性激素也直接与昼夜节律系统相互作用，以调节昼夜节律基因表达、调整生物过程，甚至调节自身的合成。几种疾病与性激素背景或分子钟的改变有关。因此，在这一章中，我们旨在总结目前对昼夜节律系统与性激素之间关系的理解，以及它们在几种相关疾病发病中的共同作用。
