Review: steroid hormones and circadian clocks interact across the lifespan
This review describes a two-way link: the circadian system shapes the timing of steroid secretion, and steroid hormones feed back on central and peripheral clocks. The interaction changes during development, reproductive life and ageing. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The review describes a reciprocal, multi-level regulatory relationship between the circadian clock and steroid hormones. [1]
The review states that maternal glucocorticoids and other perinatal steroid signals may shape maturation and long-term function of the circadian system. [1]
The review names shift work as an example of disrupted temporal coordination that may impair reproductive and endocrine function. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Review (abstract only)
- Population / context
- Organisms and people across the lifespan, including prenatal and early postnatal development, reproductive life in females and ageing
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 1, 2026
Reciprocal clock–steroid regulation described in the review
The review states that the circadian clock and steroid hormones are linked through a reciprocal, multi-level regulatory relationship. The central pacemaker in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and peripheral clocks shape the temporal pattern of steroid secretion. In turn, steroid hormones feed back onto these clocks and modify clock gene expression, phase, amplitude, synchrony and network coherence.
Supporting source [1]
Lifespan stages: development, reproductive life and ageing
The review describes this interaction as dynamic across the lifespan. In prenatal and early postnatal development, maternal glucocorticoids and other perinatal steroid signals provide time-dependent cues that may shape maturation and long-term function of the circadian system. In reproductive life in females, ovarian steroids remodel clocks within the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. With advancing age, circadian and endocrine rhythms lose robustness, coordination between the central pacemaker and peripheral clocks weakens, and synchrony among cellular clocks in peripheral tissues decreases.
Supporting source [1]
Disruption and consequences named in the review
The review says glucocorticoids interact with the reproductive axis and may influence fertility depending on time of day and cycle stage. It names shift work as an example of disrupted temporal coordination that may impair reproductive and endocrine function. Age-related changes are described as contributing to disturbed sleep-wake rhythms, reproductive ageing and altered stress responsiveness.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract of a review; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports no study design, sample, follow-up or measured outcomes, and the described links are presented as mechanisms, not proven causes.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Pilorz V, Chang PS, Newbold SA, Nied E, Simonneaux V, Astiz M, Piggins HD. · europepmc.org · October 1, 2026