🎉 We are delighted to share the publication of our latest article in PLOS Biology:
"A developmental shift in glucocorticoid receptor expression preserves glucocorticoid sensitivity in the adult suprachiasmatic nucleus"
This publication represents a major milestone for our lab, a great collaboration with Malte Spielmann’s lab and reflects years of intense research and perseverance.
🕒🐭 What did we investigate?
We studied how the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) changes throughout development in the mouse central circadian clock —the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus— and whether glucocorticoids (GCs) continue to influence the SCN during adulthood.
We studied how the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) changes throughout development in the mouse central circadian clock —the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus— and whether glucocorticoids (GCs) continue to influence the SCN during adulthood.
😲 What did we find?
Contrary to the long-standing view that the adult SCN is largely resistant to GCs, we found that GR is expressed in adult SCN astrocytes. These astrocytes can sense and respond to GCs, revealing an unexpected pathway through which the adult central clock remains sensitive to hormonal feedback.
Contrary to the long-standing view that the adult SCN is largely resistant to GCs, we found that GR is expressed in adult SCN astrocytes. These astrocytes can sense and respond to GCs, revealing an unexpected pathway through which the adult central clock remains sensitive to hormonal feedback.
🕒🔄 Why is this important?
Our findings challenge a well-established concept in circadian biology. We demonstrate that, like other neuroendocrine systems, the adult SCN receives glucocorticoid feedback. We believe that GCs provide essential information about the body's internal synchrony, keeping physiology on time.
Our findings challenge a well-established concept in circadian biology. We demonstrate that, like other neuroendocrine systems, the adult SCN receives glucocorticoid feedback. We believe that GCs provide essential information about the body's internal synchrony, keeping physiology on time.
👏 Congratulations and sincere thanks to all the authors whose hard work, dedication, and scientific rigor made this study possible as a remarkable team effort.
🙏 We are also grateful to PLOS Biology editors and all reviewers for their thoughtful and detailed evaluation of the manuscript that helped improve its quality.