The sleep-wake distribution contributes to the peripheral rhythms in PERIOD-2.

Abstract

In the mouse, <i>Period-2</i> (<i>Per2</i>) expression in tissues peripheral to the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) increases during sleep deprivation and at times of the day when animals are predominantly awake spontaneously, suggesting that the circadian sleep-wake distribution directly contributes to the daily rhythms in <i>Per2</i>. We found support for this hypothesis by recording sleep-wake state alongside PER2 bioluminescence in freely behaving mice, demonstrating that PER2 bioluminescence increases during spontaneous waking and decreases during sleep. The temporary reinstatement of PER2-bioluminescence rhythmicity in behaviorally arrhythmic SCN-lesioned mice submitted to daily recurring sleep deprivations substantiates our hypothesis. Mathematical modeling revealed that PER2 dynamics can be described by a damped harmonic oscillator driven by two forces: a sleep-wake-dependent force and an SCN-independent circadian force. Our work underscores the notion that in peripheral tissues the clock gene circuitry integrates sleep-wake information and could thereby contribute to behavioral adaptability to respond to homeostatic requirements.