Physiology Commons^™

Circadian Disruption With Constant Light Exposure Exacerbates Atherosclerosis In Male Apolipoproteine-Deficient Mice, Jeffrey M. Chalfant, Deborah A. Howatt, Lisa R. Tannock, Alan Daugherty, Julie S. Pendergast

Biology Faculty Publications

Disruption of the circadian system caused by disordered exposure to light is pervasive in modern society and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms by which this happens are largely unknown. ApolipoproteinE-deficient (ApoE^−/−) mice are studied commonly to elucidate mechanisms of atherosclerosis. In this study, we determined the effects of light-induced circadian disruption on atherosclerosis in ApoE^−/− mice. We first characterized circadian rhythms of behavior, light responsiveness, and molecular timekeeping in tissues from ApoE^−/− mice that were indistinguishable from rhythms in ApoE^+/+ mice. These data showed that ApoE^−/− mice had no inherent circadian …