The Comparative Behavioral Biology Workshop presents: 

Erin Cable 

University of Chicago 

Psychology Department 

Happy Hour? Reproduction and fertility in the absence of a functional circadian clock

Wednesday, November 18

12 pm 

Biopsychological Sciences Building 

Seminar Room 122 

ABSTRACT: A circadian clock in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) gates the preovulatory LH surge and the onset of behavioral estrus (sexual receptivity) to occur shortly before the active phase. In several rodent species, normal estrous cycles require a functional SCN, which dictates a circadian gate during which LH surges may occur. Here we used a female Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) model of circadian arrhythmia to investigate the reproductive consequences of complete circadian desynchrony. Persistent reproductive competence and the surprising presence of LH surges in hamsters lacking a functional circadian system suggest that a circadian-independent mechanism may be able to sustain reproductive neuroendocrine function.