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Content archived on 2024-05-29

Role of the circadian clockwork in the anterior pituitary gland

Objective

The aim of this proposal is to investigate the physiological relevance of the molecular circadian clockwork expressed in peripheral organs. This question will be addressed in a new and original paradigm: the endocrine pituitary gland. Indeed, several so-called clock genes that form the molecular cogwheels of the biological clock have recently been identified. Surprisingly, besides being activated in structures known to host an internal clock (namely the suprachiasmatic nuclei, SCN, in mammals) they are also expressed in many -if not all- other tissues, among which the pituitary gland where strong oscillations of the clock machinery have been found. Using mutant mice that bear an altered clock, we will research the impact of the clock upon several key parameters of the gland physiology such as electrical activity of endocrine cells and hormonal secretion in basal and stimulated conditions.

This project constitutes the frame of a stable research position of the applicant in his native country. It will be achieved thanks to several scientific collaborations at the national, European and worldwide levels. Results obtained from this research are expected to answer critical questions in fundamental chronobiology and cell biology but also, the understanding of the fine mechanisms that pace the daily functioning of organs may have potential important outcomes in modern medicine, e.g. development of chronotherapy.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

FP6-2002-MOBILITY-11
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

ERG - Marie Curie actions-European Re-integration Grants

Coordinator

INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE.
EU contribution
No data
Address
101 Rue de Tolbiac
PARIS
France
Total cost
No data