Nociceptor circadian clock genes control excitability and pain perception in mice in a sex- and time-dependent manner

Jun 2, 2026Nature communications

Pain-sensing nerve cell clocks influence pain sensitivity in mice depending on sex and time of day

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Abstract

Core clock genes are expressed in a time- and sex-dependent manner in mouse nociceptors.

Male nociceptors show reduced excitability at night, while female nociceptor excitability remains stable throughout the day.
Disruption of the core clock gene Bmal1 in male nociceptors diminishes overall activity and eliminates the nighttime reduction in heat sensitivity.
The voltage-gated chloride channel ClC-2 is identified as a key factor influencing changes in excitability and heat sensitivity in male nociceptors.

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Nociception is critical for pain perception and survival and begins with the activation of nociceptors, specialized sensory neurons located in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). Both sex and circadian rhythms, governed by clock genes, seem to play a significant role in modulating pain perception. However, the potential interaction between circadian rhythms and sex differences in nociception at the peripheral level has been largely overlooked. Here, we first report that DRGs from mice express core clock genes in a time- and sex-dependent manner. Using whole-cell recordings in intact DRGs and optogenetic stimulation of Nav1.8-expressing neurons, we demonstrate that male nociceptors exhibit reduced excitability during the night, while female nociceptor excitability remains stable across time points. Disruption of the core clock gene Bmal1 in Nav1.8-expressing neurons not only diminished nociceptor activity but also abolished the nighttime reduction in heat sensitivity observed in males, highlighting a pivotal role for the molecular clock in regulating nociception. Transcriptomic and immunohistochemistry analyses, voltage-clamp recordings, and pharmacological experiments identified the voltage-gated chloride channel ClC-2 as a key mediator for the observed fluctuations in male nociceptor excitability and heat sensitivity. This work opens promising avenues for chronobiology-inspired strategies in pain management tailored to sex-specific mechanisms.