Circadian characteristics of mice depleted with GPR7

Biomed Res. 2009 Dec;30(6):357-64. doi: 10.2220/biomedres.30.357.

Abstract

GPR7, now known as a receptor of neuropeptide B and neuropeptide W, is expressed in neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the mammalian circadian center. By the quantitative in situ hybridization, we demonstrated that GPR7 mRNA showed a significant circadian rhythm in the SCN showing a peak at early subjective night in both light-dark and constant dark. We characterized the circadian feature of GPR7-knockout mice, but the period length and the phase-dependent phase shift to light exposure were not disordered in GPR7-knockout mice. Moreover, the food-anticipatory behavior in restricted feeding schedule was observed in this gene-deleted mouse similar to wild-type. These results indicate that the role of GPR7 may be subtle or limited in relation to the circadian clock despite its robust expression in the SCN.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Clocks / physiology
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Feeding Behavior / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Light
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Photoperiod
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide / genetics
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide / metabolism*
  • Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / cytology
  • Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / metabolism

Substances

  • Npbwr1 protein, mouse
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled
  • Receptors, Neuropeptide