Chronobiological Aspects in Endocrinology
Issue: 2/1998
Author: A. S. Alexandrov
Institute of Biophysics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences – Sofia
Abstract:
Biological rhythms are inherent to all life organisms and are a necessary condition for their normal life activity. During the last years is observed a rapid development of the methods for their study.
The study, explanation, taxonomy and using in practice of this phenomenon is a part of the science of biology called chronobiology. Its aim is to answer some of the following questions: Which is the principle for measuring the time in biological systems? Do „biological clocks" exist? Where is the „clock mechanism" situated? How „biological clocks" transfer their signals to the executive organs of the organism? What are the molecular mechanisms of their activity?
Nowadays these questions are far from their final answer though the studies during the last years have highlighted some of the mecha¬nisms of their action.
The current review describes the main characterisitcs of biological rhythms such as pe-riod, phase, acrophase, amplitude, relative amplitude, etc. The systematic terminology of biological rhythms is shown based on their peri-odicity, particularly the peculiarities of the circadian rhythms. More detailed attention in the review is paid to the biological rhythms of gonadotropic hormones.
The author hopes that in this review the reader may find a stimulus toward gaining an interest in the science of chronobiology necessary to reach a more dynamic understanding of the entire field of endocrinology as it relates more broadly, beyond personal health, to our environment as a whole.
Keywords: chronobiology, endocrinology, circadian rhythms, oscillatio, pulsatile.
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