Analyses of physiological role of circadian clock in the ovary

目前该领域的认识是，视交叉上核的生物钟控制着周围器官的生物钟的相位。然而，这种控制的机制仍有待于揭示。在这项研究中，我们使用大鼠卵巢作为外周器官的模型，并研究了促黄体生成素对生物钟相位的控制作用。当用药物或外科方法使大鼠的黄体生成素水平保持在一个恒定的水平时，昼夜节律振荡的幅度显著降低。结果表明，黄体生成素对维持卵巢昼夜节律波动具有重要作用。

Current understanding in the field is that the circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus controls the phase of circadian clock in the peripheral organs. However, the mechanism of the control is remained to be shown. In this study, we used the rat ovary as a model of the peripheral organ, and investigated the potency of LH to control the phase of the circadian clock. When LH level was kept at a constant level in the rat by a pharmacological or surgical method, the amplitude of circadian oscillation was significantly decreased. The result indicates that LH is important to maintain circadian oscillation in the ovary.