In animals, core clock genes are expressed in many peripheral tissues throughout the body that contribute to tissue specific temporal regulation including those that comprise the reproductive system. The chicken ovulatory cycle seems to provide an example of a system in which circadian and interval timing mechanisms operate during ovulation-oviposition. However, little is known about the possible role of circadian regulation during egg formation and laying. To this end, we determined the rhythmic expression of several known canonical clock genes and clock controlled genes in the 4 segments of the chicken oviduct (infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, and uterus) taken from the same biological state (laying sequence and oviposition time) using real time RT-PCR. Except for Cry1, the other genes we analyzed were expressed in all 4 segments of the oviduct. Intriguingly, in a daily light-dark cycle, Bmal1, Clock, Per2, Per3, Cry2, and Rev-erbβ have highly significant rhythmic expression in the infundibulum and uterus but not in the magnum and isthmus. These results show that there is spatial specificity in the localization of clock cells in the hen reproductive tract and that peripheral clocks might have a direct role in the infundibulum and uterus where yolk is captured and the eggshell is formed, respectively.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.