Clock Gene Expression in the Murine Gastrointestinal Tract: Endogenous Rhythmicity and Effects of a Feeding Regimen

Clock genes are rhythmically expressed in the gastrointestinal tract of C57BL/6J mice.

• Clock immunoreactivity was detected in specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract, including the myenteric plexus and epithelial crypt cells.
• Timed feeding influenced clock gene expression at both RNA and protein levels in the gastrointestinal tract, but not in the central clock.
• Vagotomy did not change gastric clock gene expression when compared to sham-treated controls.
• The presence of clock genes in the gastrointestinal tract suggests a role in coordinating functions like motility and cell proliferation independently of the central clock.

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