title: When does it start ticking? Ontogenetic development of the mammalian circadian system.
abstract: Circadian rhythms in physiology and behavior ensure that vital functions are temporally synchronized with cyclic environmental changes. In mammals, the circadian system is conducted by a central circadian rhythm generator that resides in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and controls multiple subsidiary circadian oscillators in the periphery. The molecular clockwork in SCN and peripheral oscillators consists of autoregulatory transcriptional/translational feedback loops of clock genes. The adult circadian system is synchronized to the astrophysical day by light whereas the fetal and neonatal circadian system entrains to nonphotic rhythmic maternal signals. This chapter reviews maturation and entrainment of the central circadian rhythm generator in the SCN and of peripheral oscillators during ontogenetic development.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie II, Fachbereich Medizin, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Electronic address: E.Christ@med.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Christ
authors.affiliation: Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie II, Fachbereich Medizin, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Dr. Senckenbergisches Chronomedizinisches Institut, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Horst-Werner
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Korf
authors.affiliation: Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie II, Fachbereich Medizin, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Dr. Senckenbergisches Chronomedizinisches Institut, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Gall
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D013493:Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056925:Circadian Rhythm Signaling Peptides and Proteins