Differential and day-time dependent expression of nuclear receptors RORα, RORβ, RORγ and RXRα in the rodent pancreas and islet

► Evidence of a differential, cell-specific expression pattern of RORs in islets. ► RORγ, RORα and RXRα expression follows a circadian pattern in rat pancreas. ► Serum shock elicits circadian RORγ transcript fluctuations in rat insulinoma cells. ► We presume a link between receptor expression and endocrine cellular functions.