Circadian Rhythms of the Liver and Their Sexual Dimorphism: Current State of the Problem

Abstract

The rhythmicity of life functioning processes at the cellular, organ, and system levels is one of the fundamental properties of living things. Among the wide range of biorhythms, circadian rhythms are the most important for mammals. In mammals, circadian rhythms coordinate a wide range of physiological processes with constantly changing environmental conditions, primarily with light conditions. Data on the characteristics of the circadian rhythms of the liver (the most important organ for maintaining homeostasis) are limited and sometimes even contradictory. We aim to analyze modern literature investigating the organization of circadian rhythms at the gene, cellular, and organ levels. Over the past decades, it has become known that disruption of the normal circadian rhythm of the liver underlies the development of several pathologies. This article highlights some aspects of the normal circadian rhythm functioning and the role of circadian dysfunction in the occurrence of specific pathologies. We also focus on the little-explored issue of sex differences in the circadian rhythms of the mammalian liver.

Keywords

• liver
• circadian rhythm
• sex