Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

In Vitro Bioluminescence Assay to Characterize Circadian Rhythm in Mammary Epithelial Cells
11:56

In Vitro Bioluminescence Assay to Characterize Circadian Rhythm in Mammary Epithelial Cells

Published on: September 28, 2017

Development of circadian rhythms: role of postnatal light environment

Elisabeth Brooks1, Maria M Canal

  • 1University of Manchester, Faculty of Life Sciences, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|March 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Newborn mammals

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Chronobiology

Background:

  • Mammals are born with immature circadian systems that develop postnatally.
  • Early life environmental exposures significantly shape this development.
  • These early influences have lasting impacts on physiology and behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the stages of postnatal circadian system development.
  • To discuss the long-term effects of the early environment on mammals.
  • To highlight the specific impact of the light environment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies.
  • Analysis of developmental stages of the mammalian circadian system.
  • Synthesis of data on early environmental influences.

Main Results:

  • Circadian system development is a prolonged postnatal process.
  • Early environmental factors, especially light, influence brain development.
  • Postnatal environment impacts long-term circadian function and health.

Conclusions:

  • The early life environment is critical for establishing healthy circadian rhythms.
  • Light exposure in early life has profound and lasting effects.
  • Understanding these effects is key for animal welfare and health.

Related Concept Videos

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

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,...
Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation02:19

Circadian Rhythms and Gene Regulation

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,...
Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses02:45

Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses

The circadian—or biological—clock is an intrinsic, timekeeping, molecular mechanism that allows plants to coordinate physiological activities over 24-hour cycles called circadian rhythms. Photoperiodism is a collective term for the biological responses of plants to variations in the relative lengths of dark and light periods. The period of light-exposure is called the photoperiod.
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
The Pineal Gland01:02

The Pineal Gland

The pineal gland, a diminutive endocrine structure named for its pinecone-shaped appearance, is situated atop the third ventricle within the diencephalon region of the forebrain. This gland, composed of secretory cells known as pinealocytes arranged in compact cords and clusters around dense particles of calcium salts, plays a pivotal role in hormonal regulation.
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways01:22

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...