Systemic Orchestration of Photoperiod and Circadian Signals: Implications for Central and Peripheral Clock Regulation, Sleep, and Muscle Performance

Circadian rhythms, generated by the central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and synchronized peripheral oscillators throughout the body, coordinate nearly every aspect of physiology. Day length (photoperiod) is one of the most powerful environmental cues shaping this timing system, and seasonal or artificial changes in light exposure can desynchronize the SCN from peripheral clocks in tissues such as the liver, brain, skeletal muscle, gonads, adipose tissue, and cardiovascular system. Understanding how light-driven signals maintain or disrupt this systemic harmony is essential for explaining seasonal physiology and the health consequences of modern light exposure patterns, such as shift work, jet lag, and artificial light at night.This Research Topic aims to bring together current research on the interaction between photoperiod, circadian rhythms, and systemic physiological coordination. We welcome studies addressing, but not limited to, the following areas:-Mechanisms of SCN-to-peripheral clock signaling under varying photoperiodic conditions-Photoperiod-driven metabolic changes in the liver and adipose tissue-Circadian and seasonal regulation of skeletal muscle function and performance-Photoperiodic effects on reproductive/gonadal axis timing-Cardiovascular rhythm entrainment and disruption by light cues-Central nervous system responses to altered day length and their downstream effects on peripheral organs-Consequences of photoperiodic disruption (e.g., shift work, artificial light at night, seasonal affective patterns) for systemic health-Molecular, physiological, and behavioral studies in animal or human models examining clock synchronization across tissuesWe invite original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews that advance understanding of how light-driven timing cues act as primary drivers of systemic physiological coordination, with the goal of informing both basic chronobiology and translational strategies for circadian-related health conditions. Topic editors: Pawan Jha, S K TAHAJJUL TAUFIQUE Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82255/systemic-orchestration-of-photoperiod-and-circadian-signals-implications-for-central-and-peripheral-clock-regulation-sleep-and-muscle-performance