Research

I investigate how circadian and ultradian timing shapes cardiovascular function, with emphasis on prenatal programming and environmental modulation of physiological rhythms.

Research Lines

Prenatal Hypoxia and Developmental Programming

We examine how circadian timing of acute prenatal hypoxia influences maternal physiology, placental function, and long-term cardiovascular vulnerability in offspring, with emphasis on sex-specific programming and autonomic–endocrine mechanisms.

Artificial Light at Night (ALAN)

We study how artificial light at night disrupts circadian integrity and modifies sleep-related physiology, autonomic regulation, and blood pressure dynamics in controlled experimental models.

Telemetry, Molecular Integration and Data Analysis

Our approach combines long-term telemetry in freely moving animals (BP, HR, EEG, activity) with transcriptomic and protein-level validation (RNA-seq, targeted molecular analyses) to link physiological phenotypes with underlying mechanisms.

International Mentoring

The laboratory hosts visiting students through ERASMUS+ and related mobility programmes. Internships focus on experimental cardiovascular physiology, telemetry data analysis, chronobiology, and molecular techniques.

Since
2025
Students
2
Countries
2

Tools

I develop and maintain Cosinor.Online, a web-based tool for chronobiological data analysis.

Visit cosinor.online
Cosinor fit, confidence intervals, polar plot, and periodogram visualisations.

Selected Publications

Citations per year
*2026 is a partial year
Mauer Sutovská H, Molčan L, Štefánik P, Zeman M. Dark-phase melatonin administration does not reduce blood pressure but induces changes in cardiovascular parameters. Hypertension Research, 1–16, 2025.
Mauer Sutovská H, Obermajer V, Zeman M, Molčan L. Artificial light at night affects the daily profile of pulse pressure and protein expression in the thoracic aorta of rats. Hypertension Research 47(7):1897–1907, 2024.
Molčan L. Telemetric data collection should be standard in experimental cardiovascular research. Physiology & Behavior 242:113620, 2021.
Molčan L. Time-distributed data analysis by Cosinor. Online application. bioRxiv 2019. doi:10.1101/805960
Molčan L, Sutovská H, Okuliarová M, et al. Dim light at night attenuates circadian rhythms in the cardiovascular system and suppresses melatonin in rats. Life Sciences 231:116568, 2019.
Molčan L, Zeman M. Shifts in the light-dark cycle increase unpredictability of the cardiovascular system. Autonomic Neuroscience 206:51–59, 2017.
Svitok P, Molčan L, Stebelová K, et al. Prenatal hypoxia in rats increased blood pressure and sympathetic drive of the adult offspring. Hypertension Research 39(7):501–505, 2016.
Google Scholar ORCID ResearchGate Scopus

Tools and Software

I develop and maintain Cosinor.Online – a browser-based tool for analysing time-distributed data using the classic cosinor model:

Y(t) = MESOR + Amplitude × cos(2πt / Period + φ)

The tool allows users to upload time-series data, fit a cosine curve using least squares, visualise results (fit curve, polar plot, periodogram), and compare multiple groups or conditions. It is designed for chronobiological research but works with any rhythmic dataset.

Cosinor.Online
Cosinor Preview

Teaching and Supervision

Bachelor’s Level (I.)

  • Bachelor Thesis – Biology, Medical Biology
  • Bachelor Seminar (1)–(2) – Biology, Medical Biology
  • Cell Biology – Biology, Systematic Biology
  • Animal and Human Physiology – Biology, Systematic Biology
  • Human Functional Morphology – Medical Biology

Master’s Level (II.)

  • Integrative Physiology
  • Master Thesis (1)–(4)
  • Diploma Practice
  • Special Seminar (3)
  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Basics in Pathophysiology
  • Special Diploma Work Seminar (1) and (2)
  • Evaluation of Biological Experiments

Doctoral Level (III.)

  • Cell Signalling – Animal Physiology
BSc theses
Completed: 11 · Ongoing: 1
MSc theses
Completed: 7 · Ongoing: 2
PhD supervision
Completed: 0 · Ongoing: 1

Contact

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