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Short Communication

Exp Neurobiol 2018; 27(5): 344-349

Published online October 31, 2018

https://doi.org/10.5607/en.2018.27.5.344

© The Korean Society for Brain and Neural Sciences

Circadian Regulation by REV-ERBα Mediates Hippocampal E-LTP in a Time-dependent Manner

Ja Eun Choi1, Somi Kim1, Jisu Lee1, Kyungjin Kim2, and Bong-Kiun Kaang1*

1School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea.

2Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu 42988, Korea.

Correspondence to: *To whom correspondence should be addressed.
TEL: 82-2-880-9024, FAX: 82-2-884-9577
e-mail: kaang@snu.ac.kr

Received: September 27, 2018; Revised: October 25, 2018; Accepted: October 29, 2018

Circadian rhythms are driven by circadian oscillators, and these rhythms result in the biological phenomenon of 24-h oscillations. Previous studies suggest that learning and memory are affected by circadian rhythms. One of the genes responsible for generating the circadian rhythm is Rev-erbα. The REV-ERBα protein is a nuclear receptor that acts as a transcriptional repressor, and is a core component of the circadian clock. However, the role of REV-ERBα in neurophysiological processes in the hippocampus has not been characterized yet. In this study, we examined the time-dependent role of REV-ERBα in hippocampal synaptic plasticity using Rev-erbα KO mice. The KO mice lacking REV-ERBα displayed abnormal NMDAR-dependent synaptic potentiation (E-LTP) at CT12~CT14 (subjective night) when compared to their wild-type littermates. However, Rev-erbα KO mice exhibited normal E-LTP at CT0~CT2 (subjective day). We also found that the Rev-erbα KO mice had intact late LTP (L-LTP) at both subjective day and night. Taken together, these results provide evidence that REV-ERBα is critical for hippocampal E-LTP during the dark period.

Graphical Abstract


Keywords: Circadian clock system, Circadian rhythm, Neuronal plasticity, Long-term potentiation