Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 27, 2025
16:23
Automated, Quantitative Cognitive/Behavioral Screening of Mice: For Genetics, Pharmacology, Animal Cognition and Undergraduate Instruction
Published on: February 26, 2014
14.8K
Photoperiodic regulation in a wild-derived mouse strain
Cristina Sáenz de Miera1,2, Matthew Beymer3, Kevin Routledge2
1Institute for Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France csaenzde@umich.edu.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|February 27, 2020
Summary
Melatonin-producing MSM mice exposed to long photoperiods show altered gene expression and increased body/reproductive mass compared to short photoperiods. Gestational photoperiod also impacts offspring, suggesting transgenerational effects.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
Background:
- MSM mice synthesize melatonin, reflecting ambient light.
- Photoperiod influences seasonal biology in rodents.
Purpose of the Study:
- Characterize photoperiod's effects on MSM mouse metabolism, reproduction, and gene expression.
- Investigate transgenerational effects of photoperiod on offspring.
Main Methods:
- MSM mice exposed to long (LP) or short (SP) photoperiods for 6 weeks.
- Analyzed pituitary-hypothalamic gene expression (TSH, dio2, RFRP3, dio3).
- Assessed body and reproductive organ mass.
- Studied offspring from mothers exposed to LP or SP during gestation.
Main Results:
- LP conditions increased TSH, dio2, RFRP3 gene expression and decreased dio3 expression compared to SP.
- LP mice exhibited larger body and reproductive organ mass.
- Gestational photoperiod influenced offspring's TSH/dio pathway, indicating transgenerational effects.
Conclusions:
- Photoperiod influences neuroendocrine regulation in melatonin-proficient MSM mice.
- MSM mice serve as a model for studying photoperiodic regulation of seasonal biology.
- Transgenerational effects of photoperiod observed from mother to fetus.
