Restricted Feeding Resets the Peripheral Clocks of the Digestive System.

All organisms maintain an internal clock that matches the Earth's rotation over a period of 24 h, known as the circadian rhythm. Previously, we established () transgenic (Tg) mice in order to monitor the expression rhythms of the clock gene in each tissue in real time using a bioluminescent reporter. The gene is a known key molecular regulator of the mammalian clock system in the autonomous central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and the peripheral tissues.

A central-acting connexin inhibitor, INI-0602, prevents high-fat diet-induced feeding pattern disturbances and obesity in mice.

A high-fat diet (HFD) causes obesity by promoting excessive energy intake, and simultaneously, by disturbing the timing of energy intake. Restoring the feeding pattern is sufficient to prevent HFD-induced obesity in mice. However, the molecular mechanism(s) underlying HFD-induced feeding pattern disturbances remain elusive.