Maternal Melatonin Effects on Clock Gene Expression in a Nonhuman Primate Fetus

In 90% of gestation, capuchin monkey fetuses express key clock genes in various tissues, including the suprachiasmatic nucleus.

• The clock genes Bmal-1, Per-2, Cry-2, and Clock were found in the suprachiasmatic nucleus, adrenal, pituitary, brown fat, and pineal of the fetus.
• Bmal-1, Per-2, and the melatonin 1 receptor (MT1) exhibited strong oscillatory expression in both the suprachiasmatic nucleus and adrenal gland.
• A circadian rhythm of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate was detected in fetal plasma.
• Maternal melatonin suppression altered the expression of Bmal-1, Per-2, and MT1 in the fetal suprachiasmatic nucleus.
• Maternal melatonin replacement reversed the effects of its suppression on fetal suprachiasmatic nucleus gene expression.
• Maternal melatonin did not affect the expression of Per-2 and Bmal-1 or MT1 in the fetal adrenal gland.

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