Expert Commentary
View AllPublications
Predictors of Clinical Pain in Fibromyalgia: Examining the Role of Sleep
Bidirectional interactions between circadian entrainment and cognitive performance
Subjective, anatomical, and functional nasal evaluation of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Sleep disturbances and fatigue: independent predictors of sickness absence? A prospective study among 6538 employees
The role of presleep negative emotion in sleep physiology
Anderson RJ, McCrae CS, Staud R, Berry RB, Robinson ME.
Department of Clinical and Health...
Department of Clinical and Health...
Bidirectional interactions between circadian entrainment and cognitive performance
Gritton HJ, Kantorowski A, Sarter M, Lee TM.
Department of Psychology, University of...
Department of Psychology, University of...
Subjective, anatomical, and functional nasal evaluation of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
de Aguiar Vidigal T, Martinho Haddad FL, Gregório LC, Poyares D, Tufik S, Azeredo...
Sleep disturbances and fatigue: independent predictors of sickness absence? A prospective study among 6538 employees
Bültmann U, Nielsen MB, Madsen IE, Burr H, Rugulies R.
Department of Health Sciences,...
Department of Health Sciences,...
The role of presleep negative emotion in sleep physiology
Vandekerckhove M, Weiss R, Schotte C, Exadaktylos V, Haex B, Verbraecken J, Cluydts R....






Shift work, jet lag, and female reproduction
Megan M. Mahoney, PhD
Assistant Professor
Veterinary Biosciences
Urbana, IL
Circadian rhythms and "clock gene" expression are involved in successful reproductive cycles, mating, and pregnancy. Alterations or disruptions of biological rhythms, as commonly occur in shift work, jet lag, sleep deprivation, or clock gene knock out models, are linked to significant disruptions in reproductive function. These impairments include altered hormonal secretion patterns, reduced conception rates, increased miscarriage rates and an increased risk of breast cancer. Female health may be particularly susceptible to the impact of desynchronizing work schedules as perturbed hormonal rhythms can further influence the expression patterns of clock genes. Estrogen modifies clock gene expression in the uterus, ovaries, and suprachiasmatic nucleus, the site of the primary circadian clock mechanism. Further work investigating clock genes, light exposure, ovarian hormones, and reproductive function will be critical for identifying how these factors interact to impact health and susceptibility to disease.
References