Expression patterns of clock genes in the kidney of two Lasiopodomys species

Abstract

Previous studies showed that the kidney has its own molecular circadian clock expression regulation that maintains the homeostasis of physiological processes. However, limited information is available on the molecular mechanisms of the kidney circadian rhythm in subterranean rodents. Here, we report circadian gene expression in the kidney of subterranean Mandarin voles and the related aboveground Brandt’s voles, reared under 12L:12D (LD) or dark (DD) conditions, respectively. The results showed that the rhythmic genes were represented in Brandt’s voles in higher numbers under LD than DD conditions, but the number of rhythmic genes in Mandarin voles was similar between the two treatment conditions. The gene expression levels at different timepoints all showed reduced results under DD conditions compared with those in the LD cycle in Brandt’s voles, whereas the expression levels of the tested genes at certain Zeitgeber timepoints showed higher results than in the LD cycle in Mandarin voles. The gene expression peak showed chaotic resetting under DD conditions in both voles. We thus suggest that Mandarin and Brandt’s voles have different molecular circadian clock expression adjustment patterns in the kidney as an adaptation to different living environments. Mandarin voles seem to be more adapted to the dark environment, while Brandt’s voles are more dependent on external light conditions.