Chronic Dexamethasone Disturbs the Circadian Rhythm of Melatonin and Clock Genes in Goats

Dex is a drug commonly used as an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agent in humans and animals. GCs have a profound impact on melatonin expression and biological rhythm. However, the effect of chronic exposure to Dex on melatonin secretion and biological clock gene expression in ruminants is...

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Main Authors: Liuping Cai, Qu Chen, Canfeng Hua, Liqiong Niu, Qijun Kong, Lei Wu, Yingdong Ni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/115
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author Liuping Cai
Qu Chen
Canfeng Hua
Liqiong Niu
Qijun Kong
Lei Wu
Yingdong Ni
author_facet Liuping Cai
Qu Chen
Canfeng Hua
Liqiong Niu
Qijun Kong
Lei Wu
Yingdong Ni
author_sort Liuping Cai
collection DOAJ
description Dex is a drug commonly used as an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agent in humans and animals. GCs have a profound impact on melatonin expression and biological rhythm. However, the effect of chronic exposure to Dex on melatonin secretion and biological clock gene expression in ruminants is still unclear. Ten goats were randomly divided into two groups: the control group was injected with saline, and the Dex-treated group was intramuscularly injected daily for 21 d with 0.2 mg/kg Dex. The rhythm of melatonin secretion in the plasma was disturbed in the Dex group, and the plasma and colon levels of melatonin were lower in the Dex group compared to the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Dex leads to a significant decrease in the expression of Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), a key melatonin synthase, in the pineal gland and colon. Detecting intestinal leakage-related indices showed that diamine oxidase (DAO) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) content increased significantly in the Dex group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). We also detected genes associated with biological rhythms in the plasma. In the control group, the five tested genes showed circadian rhythms, but the circadian rhythms of Clock, Cry1, Cry2, and Per2 were abolished or blunted by the Dex (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Protein levels of CLOCK and BMAL1 in the colon changed significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, the above experimental results show that chronic exposure to Dex leads to the disorder of the circadian rhythms of melatonin secretion and clock genes.
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spelling doaj-art-f6d17145599b4ad1b890d2a594a41ec92025-01-10T13:14:06ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-01-0115111510.3390/ani15010115Chronic Dexamethasone Disturbs the Circadian Rhythm of Melatonin and Clock Genes in GoatsLiuping Cai0Qu Chen1Canfeng Hua2Liqiong Niu3Qijun Kong4Lei Wu5Yingdong Ni6Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaJiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural Biology and Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212100, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Physiology & Biochemistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, ChinaDex is a drug commonly used as an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory agent in humans and animals. GCs have a profound impact on melatonin expression and biological rhythm. However, the effect of chronic exposure to Dex on melatonin secretion and biological clock gene expression in ruminants is still unclear. Ten goats were randomly divided into two groups: the control group was injected with saline, and the Dex-treated group was intramuscularly injected daily for 21 d with 0.2 mg/kg Dex. The rhythm of melatonin secretion in the plasma was disturbed in the Dex group, and the plasma and colon levels of melatonin were lower in the Dex group compared to the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Dex leads to a significant decrease in the expression of Arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), a key melatonin synthase, in the pineal gland and colon. Detecting intestinal leakage-related indices showed that diamine oxidase (DAO) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) content increased significantly in the Dex group (<i>p</i> < 0.05). We also detected genes associated with biological rhythms in the plasma. In the control group, the five tested genes showed circadian rhythms, but the circadian rhythms of Clock, Cry1, Cry2, and Per2 were abolished or blunted by the Dex (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Protein levels of CLOCK and BMAL1 in the colon changed significantly (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In conclusion, the above experimental results show that chronic exposure to Dex leads to the disorder of the circadian rhythms of melatonin secretion and clock genes.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/115dexamethasonemelatoningutbiological rhythmruminant
spellingShingle Liuping Cai
Qu Chen
Canfeng Hua
Liqiong Niu
Qijun Kong
Lei Wu
Yingdong Ni
Chronic Dexamethasone Disturbs the Circadian Rhythm of Melatonin and Clock Genes in Goats
Animals
dexamethasone
melatonin
gut
biological rhythm
ruminant
title Chronic Dexamethasone Disturbs the Circadian Rhythm of Melatonin and Clock Genes in Goats
title_full Chronic Dexamethasone Disturbs the Circadian Rhythm of Melatonin and Clock Genes in Goats
title_fullStr Chronic Dexamethasone Disturbs the Circadian Rhythm of Melatonin and Clock Genes in Goats
title_full_unstemmed Chronic Dexamethasone Disturbs the Circadian Rhythm of Melatonin and Clock Genes in Goats
title_short Chronic Dexamethasone Disturbs the Circadian Rhythm of Melatonin and Clock Genes in Goats
title_sort chronic dexamethasone disturbs the circadian rhythm of melatonin and clock genes in goats
topic dexamethasone
melatonin
gut
biological rhythm
ruminant
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/1/115
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AT quchen chronicdexamethasonedisturbsthecircadianrhythmofmelatoninandclockgenesingoats
AT canfenghua chronicdexamethasonedisturbsthecircadianrhythmofmelatoninandclockgenesingoats
AT liqiongniu chronicdexamethasonedisturbsthecircadianrhythmofmelatoninandclockgenesingoats
AT qijunkong chronicdexamethasonedisturbsthecircadianrhythmofmelatoninandclockgenesingoats
AT leiwu chronicdexamethasonedisturbsthecircadianrhythmofmelatoninandclockgenesingoats
AT yingdongni chronicdexamethasonedisturbsthecircadianrhythmofmelatoninandclockgenesingoats