HormonesMelatonin

Chronic photoperiod disruption reduces hepatic protein-synthetic function (albumin) in rats, which is fully restored by exogenous melatonin.

Constant light exposure for 21 days reduced albumin levels by 15.7% in male and 15.9% in female rats, and suppressed BMAL1 and CLOCK expression by over 70% while increasing PER2 expression. Melatonin treatment (12 mg/L in drinking water) fully restored circadian protein expression and normalized protein synthetic parameters to control levels in both sexes.

Last updated: Jul 7, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score26/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Circadian dysregulation as a factor in impaired hepatic protein-synthetic function under chronic photoperiod disruption: the role of sex and chronobiotic correction.

observational

Areshidze DA, Kozlova MA, Anurkina AI, Chernikov VP, Gladyshev NS · Biology of sex differences (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 21 days
Intervention: Constant light (LL) for 21 days with or without melatonin (12 mg/L in drinking water)
Outcome: Plasma total protein and albumin levels; percentage of hepatocytes positive for BMAL1, CLOCK, and PER2
Effect Size: Albumin reduction: 15.7% (males), 15.9% (females); BMAL1/CLOCK reduction >70%; PER2 increase 28.9-35.0%; BMAL1-albumin correlation r=0.79-0.81
Population: 240 adult Wistar rats (120 males, 120 females)

Result:

PubMed: 42401921DOI: 10.1186/s13293-026-00949-y

Mechanism Graph

Constant light disrupts circadian clock gene expression in the liver
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BMAL1 and CLOCK expression are suppressed by >70%, while PER2 accumulates
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Reduced BMAL1/CLOCK and increased PER2 are strongly correlated with lower albumin levels
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Exogenous melatonin restores clock protein expression and normalizes albumin production

Limitations

  • ⚠Animal model (rats) may not fully translate to human circadian disruption
  • ⚠Only one type of photoperiod disruption (constant light) was tested, not other common disruptions like shift work or jet lag

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main finding of this study?▼

Chronic constant light exposure disrupts liver clock proteins (BMAL1, CLOCK, PER2) and reduces albumin production, but melatonin treatment fully reverses these effects in both male and female rats.

How much did albumin levels drop under constant light?▼

Albumin levels decreased by about 15.7% in males and 15.9% in females compared to controls.

Did melatonin help restore liver function?▼

Yes, melatonin (12 mg/L in drinking water) fully restored the expression of all examined circadian proteins and normalized protein synthetic parameters to control levels in both sexes.

Was there a difference between male and female rats?▼

Yes, two-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of sex and an interaction between sex and lighting conditions, indicating sexual dimorphism in susceptibility to circadian disruption.

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References

  1. 1.Areshidze DA, Kozlova MA, Anurkina AI, Chernikov VP, Gladyshev NS. "Circadian dysregulation as a factor in impaired hepatic protein-synthetic function under chronic photoperiod disruption: the role of sex and chronobiotic correction.." Biology of sex differences, 2026. PMID: 42401921 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-026-00949-y
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.