Zebrafish Study Explains Why the Circadian Rhythm Affects Your Health

Aug. 28, 2012 —
Science Daily/Linköping Universitet

https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2012/08/120828073049_1_540x360.jpg
A normal circadian rhythm regulates the genes needed to form the signalling substance VEGF, which in turn is necessary for blood vessel growth (angiogenesis). Light at night disturbs the circadian rhythm, and VEGF cannot be produced – blood vessel growth is inhibited, which can be seen in the microscope images at right.
Credit: Lasse Dahl Jensen

Disruptions to the circadian rhythm can affect the growth of blood vessels in the body, thus causing illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, and cancer, according to a new study from Linköping University and Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

In an article now being published in the scientific journal Cell Reports, it is demonstrated for the first time that disruption of the circadian rhythm immediately inhibit blood vessel growth in zebra fish embryos.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120828073049.htm