Dissociation of Molecular and Endocrine Circadian Rhythms in Male Mice Lacking Bmal1 in the Adrenal Cortex

Conditional knockout of Bmal1 in adrenal cortex cells leads to a loss of molecular clock gene activity rhythms.

• Disruption of rhythmic gene expression occurs in steroid-producing cells following the loss of Bmal1.
• Despite altered molecular clock activity, behavioral and physiological rhythms remain intact in mutant mice.
• Acute stress responses are preserved in mice lacking normal clock rhythmicity in the adrenal cortex.
• These results suggest that local clock function in the adrenal cortex may play a less crucial role in regulating glucocorticoid release.

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