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Updated: Oct 29, 2025

Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures
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Parallel Measurement of Circadian Clock Gene Expression and Hormone Secretion in Human Primary Cell Cultures

Published on: November 11, 2016

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Development of the circadian system and relevance of periodic signals for neonatal development

Carolina Escobar1, Adelina Rojas-Granados1, Manuel Angeles-Castellanos1

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México, Mexico.

Handbook of Clinical Neurology
|July 6, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Infant circadian systems develop before birth and are sensitive to light. Early light exposure, especially in premature infants, helps establish sleep-wake patterns and is crucial for perinatal care.

Area of Science:

  • Chronobiology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Neonatal Physiology

Background:

  • Circadian rhythms, endogenous biological cycles approximating 24 hours, are crucial for physiological regulation.
  • The mammalian circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, develops prenatally, with primate presence by mid-pregnancy.
  • Infant circadian systems demonstrate light sensitivity early in development, suggesting photic regulation influences maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the developmental trajectory of the mammalian circadian system.
  • To highlight the role of photic cues in regulating the developing circadian clock in infants.
  • To underscore the significance of circadian regulation in perinatal care.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent scientific literature on circadian rhythms and infant development.
  • Analysis of studies investigating light exposure and its effects on neonatal circadian entrainment.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding the maturation of circadian outputs, including sleep-wake and hormonal rhythms.

Main Results:

  • The circadian system is established before birth and is sensitive to light from early developmental stages.
  • Low-intensity lighting can modulate the developing circadian clock in infants.
  • Postnatal maturation of circadian outputs leads to distinct sleep-wake and hormonal rhythms.
  • Exposure to light-dark cycles in premature infants accelerates the establishment of activity-rest patterns synchronized with the external environment.

Conclusions:

  • Circadian photic regulation is critically important for infant development.
  • The application of circadian biology principles is expected to enhance perinatal care practices.
  • Understanding circadian system development offers new avenues for optimizing neonatal health outcomes.

Keywords:
Circadian rhythmsConstant lightDevelopmentHumanNICUNewbornsPerinatal carePhotic entrainmentRetina damageSuprachiasmatic nucleus

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