Obesity alters circadian expressions of molecular clock genes in the brainstem

In lean C57BL/6 mice, transcript levels of core clock genes exhibited 24-hour rhythmicity.

• Obesity caused by a high-fat diet reduced the rhythmic expression of certain core clock genes in the brainstem of mice.
• Increased levels of clock gene expression were observed in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity.
• Decreased expression of the Cry1 gene was found in genetically obese mice.
• The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) was up-regulated in the brainstem of obesity models, indicating its potential role in disrupting circadian rhythms.
• A downstream target of clock genes, associated with neuronal function, showed disturbed expression patterns in the brainstem of obese mice.

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