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Characterizing a Mammalian Circannual Pacemaker
Abstract
Many species express endogenous cycles in physiology and behavior that allow anticipation of the seasons. The anatomical and cellular bases of these circannual rhythms have not been defined. Here, we provide strong evidence using an in vivo Soay sheep model that the circannual regulation of prolactin secretion, and its associated biology, derive from a pituitary-based timing mechanism. Circannual rhythm generation is seen as the product of the interaction between melatonin-regulated timer cells and adjacent prolactin-secreting cells, which together function as an intrapituitary “pacemaker-slave” timer system. These new insights open the way for a molecular analysis of long-term timing mechanisms.
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References and Notes
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Supporting Online Material provides details of the hypothalamopituitary disconnection (HPD) sheep model (summary diagram, fig. S1), current materials and methods for the animals, experimental design, hormone assays and sine-wave analysis, results for melatonin rhythms and locomotor activity patterns in the sheep during prolonged exposure to LP (fig. S2), and results for the circannual rhythm analysis (two tables).
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We dedicate this scientific contribution to the late Norah Anderson, who devoted a career to the Soay Sheep Research Programme and cared for the animals in the current study. We thank M. Thompson, I. Swanston, and I. Cooper for expert technical help, T. Pinner for the art work, and J. Johnston for constructive comments on the manuscript. The U.K. Medical Research Council provided the long-term funding.
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Published In
Science
Volume 314 | Issue 5807
22 December 2006
22 December 2006
Copyright
American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Submission history
Received: 3 July 2006
Accepted: 10 November 2006
Published in print: 22 December 2006
Notes
Supporting Online Material
www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/314/5807/1941/DC1
Materials and Methods
Figs. S1 and S2
Tables S1 and S2
References
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