Investigation on molecular biological mechanism of diurnal micturition rhythm

我们发现，控制功能性膀胱容量的分子连接蛋白43（Cx43）的昼夜节律振荡受与生物钟相关的基因Rev-erbα和与生物钟无关的分子Sp-1的相互作用调控。因此，在膀胱平滑肌细胞之间的间隙连接活动中产生昼夜节律，并有助于排尿节律，其中睡眠期的膀胱容量大于活动期。因此，生物钟是排尿节律的调节器。

We discovered circadian oscillation of Connexin43(Cx43), a molecule controlling functional bladder capacity, is regulated thorough interaction by Rev-erbα, a gene related with the circadian clock, and Sp-1, a molecule unrelated with the clock. As a result, circadian rhythm is generated in gap junction activity among bladder smooth muscle cells and contributes to micturition rhythm, with bladder capacity larger during sleep phase than during active phase. Thus, circadian clock is a regulator of micturition rhythm.