ROLE OF CIRCADIAN GENE EXPRESSION IN GNRH PULSATILITY

下丘脑脉动性分泌促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）对包括人类在内的哺乳动物的正常生殖功能至关重要。尽管过去的许多研究集中在神经元和激素因素可能调节这种脉冲释放，但调节这些事件时间的细胞和分子机制尚未阐明。最近的研究表明，转录反馈回路可能对多种细胞类型中发现的基因表达的昼夜节律振荡有反应。然而，目前尚不清楚昼夜节律基因是否也可能影响GnRH基因的表达或分泌。鉴于此，我们将在体外使用GT1细胞和体内使用转基因小鼠研究昼夜节律基因mper1、mper2和clock对GnRH基因表达和分泌的作用，具体目的如下：1 .确定GT1细胞是否可以被诱导表达mper1的昼夜节律模式，以及mper1转录的任何变化是否与GnRH基因表达和/或肽分泌的同步有关。确定GT1细胞体外和转基因小鼠体内正常时钟信号的中断是否会影响GnRH基因表达和/或GnRH释放的模式和时间。这些研究的结果将使我们能够更好地理解正常生殖功能所需的GnRH脉动性分泌的可能分子和细胞机制。

The pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus is crucial for normal reproductive function in mammals, including humans. Although much past research has concentrated on what neuronal and hormonal factors may modulate this pulsatile release, the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating the timing of these events has yet to be elucidated. Recent studies suggest that a transcriptional feedback loop may be responsive for conferring circadian oscillations of gene expression found in multiple cell types. It is as yet unclear, however, whether circadian genes may also influence GnRH gene expression or secretion. Given this, we will investigate the role of the circadian genes mper1, mper2 and clock on GnRH gene expression and secretion in vitro using GT1 cells and in vivo using transgenic mice, as outlined in the following specific aims: Specific Aim 1 Determine whether GT1 cells can be induced to express a circadian pattern of mper1 expression, and whether any changes in transcription of mper1 are associated with the synchronization of GnRH gene expression and/or peptide secretion. Specific Aim 2 Determine whether disruption of normal CLOCK signaling in Vitro in GT1 cells, and in vivo in transgenic mice, affects patterns and timing of GnRH gene expression and/or GnRH release. Results from these studies will allow for a greater understanding of possible molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the pulsatile secretion of GnRH required for normal reproductive function.