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The biological clock is involved in many aspects of regulating complex physiology in all animals. It was in 1935 when German zoologists, Hans Kalmus and Erwin Bünning, discovered the existence of circadian rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster. However, the internal molecular mechanisms behind the circadian clock remained a mystery until 1984, when Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young discovered the expression of the Per gene oscillating over a 24-hour cycle. In subsequent years,...

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Updated: May 22, 2026

Monitoring Cell-autonomous Circadian Clock Rhythms of Gene Expression Using Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporters

Monitoring Cell-autonomous Circadian Clock Rhythms of Gene Expression Using Luciferase Bioluminescence Reporters

Published on: September 27, 2012

A rhythmic placenta? Circadian variation, clock genes and placental function.

B J Waddell¹, M D Wharfe, R C Crew

¹School of Anatomy, Physiology & Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. brendan.waddell@uwa.edu.au

|April 25, 2012

Summary

Circadian clock genes are expressed in the placenta, influencing pregnancy. Disruptions in these biological rhythms may impact placental function and health, requiring further investigation.

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Last Updated: May 22, 2026

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Area of Science:

Reproductive biology
Chronobiology
Maternal-fetal medicine

Background:

Circadian rhythms, regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus master clock, influence nearly all organs, including the reproductive system.
The molecular clock machinery involves core clock genes (e.g., Clock, Bmal1, Per, Cry) driving rhythmic gene expression and physiological processes.
Disruptions in clock gene expression are linked to pathologies like cancer and obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of circadian variations in placental function during pregnancy.
To explore the expression and potential function of placental clock genes.
To examine the implications of circadian disruption on placental physiology and pathology.

Main Methods:

Literature review focusing on placental circadian biology and maternal physiology during pregnancy.
Analysis of existing studies on clock gene expression in mammalian placentas.
Synthesis of evidence linking circadian disruption to placental function.

Main Results:

Clock genes are expressed in the placenta, suggesting a role in placental function.
Evidence indicates circadian variation may be a component of the normal placental phenotype.
While rhythmic gene expression is observed in rodent placentas, the clock machinery appears less robust and coordinated than in other tissues.

Conclusions:

Circadian rhythms likely play a role in placental physiology and may be relevant to pregnancy outcomes.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the function of placental clock genes across gestation and species.
Understanding placental circadian biology is crucial for addressing placental pathology and improving maternal-fetal health.