Diurnal rhythms are altered in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis

Our earlier studies described a disruption of heart rate and blood pressure diurnal rhythms in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The present study investigates whether these observations could be extended to additional clock-regulated rhythms in mice with EAE. Analysis of clock gene expression in the liver of EAE mice demonstrated significant variability associated with Per2 rhythmic expression. Corticosterone and leptin hormone rhythms were also altered in EAE mice. The results presented here indicate that disturbances in clock-regulated rhythms are associated with EAE and present a suitable model for investigating the relationship between circadian disruption and autoimmune inflammatory disease. (C) 2011 Elsevier BM. All rights reserved.