Circadian Variation in Gastric Vagal Afferent Mechanosensitivity

Gastric vagal mechanoreceptors exhibit a circadian rhythm in mechanosensitivity, with a response reduction of up to 70% at specific nighttime hours.

• Clock genes Per1, Per2, Bmal1, and Nr1d1 are expressed in the nodose ganglia of mice and their levels change over a 24-hour period.
• Gastric content in mice is three times higher at midnight and 0300 hours compared to noon.
• The response of tension receptors to mechanical stretch is significantly reduced at 2100, 0000, and 0300 hours compared to 1200 hours.
• Gastric mucosal receptors show a threefold greater response to mechanical stimulation at noon and 1500 hours than at midnight.
• Findings are consistent in mice that were either fasted for 6 hours or kept in darkness for 3 days, indicating that the observed changes are not solely due to food intake or light exposure.

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