title: Circadian clock control of endocrine factors.
abstract: Organisms experience dramatic fluctuations in demands and stresses over the course of the day. In order to maintain biological processes within physiological boundaries, mechanisms have evolved for anticipation of, and adaptation to, these daily fluctuations. Endocrine factors have an integral role in homeostasis. Not only do circulating levels of various endocrine factors oscillate over the 24 h period, but so too does responsiveness of target tissues to these signals or stimuli. Emerging evidence suggests that these daily endocrine oscillations do not occur solely in response to behavioural fluctuations associated with sleep-wake and feeding-fasting cycles, but are orchestrated by an intrinsic timekeeping mechanism known as the circadian clock. Disruption of circadian clocks by genetic and/or environmental factors seems to precipitate numerous common disorders, including the metabolic syndrome and cancer. Collectively, these observations suggest that strategies designed to realign normal circadian rhythmicities hold potential for the treatment of various endocrine-related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Division of Behavioural Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 703 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 703 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 703 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 703 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Martin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D057906:Circadian Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000502:physiology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D006728:Hormones; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D008550:Melatonin; D006854:Hydrocortisone