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Perinatal circadian desynchronization disrupts sleep and prefrontal cortex function in adult offspring
Brandon L Roberts1,2,3,4, Jiexin Wang1, Haifa Chargui2
1Neuroscience and Behavior Program and Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.
Sleep
|July 28, 2025
Summary
Perinatal circadian disruption alters sleep and prefrontal cortex (PFC) function in adult male mice, but not females. This research highlights potential lifelong impacts of early-life environmental disturbances on brain development and behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Chronobiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Sleep and circadian rhythms are vital for physiological function.
- Disruptions can cause metabolic, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive issues.
- Environmental circadian desynchronization (ECD) affects adult prefrontal cortex (PFC) structure and function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how perinatal ECD (pECD) affects sleep and PFC function in adult offspring.
- To explore the long-term neurobehavioral consequences of early-life circadian disruption.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mouse model of ECD.
- Assessed sleep quality in adult offspring exposed to pECD.
- Employed ex vivo patch-clamp electrophysiology to analyze PFC neural function.
Main Results:
- Male pECD mice showed altered sleep patterns (increased inactive sleep, shorter active sleep bouts).
- pECD affected excitatory synaptic function in PFC neurons.
- Time-of-day effects on neuronal properties were lost in male pECD mice.
- Female mice did not exhibit significant changes.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal ECD alters sleep behavior and PFC function in adult male mice.
- Female mice appear resilient to the effects of pECD.
- Findings provide a basis for understanding lifelong neurobehavioral impacts of pECD.
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