Effects of prolonged artificial photoperiod on circulating prolactin and melatonin levels in seasonal ewes

Crossbred ewes exposed to long days for 46 months prior to photoperiod reversal showed no alteration in the duration or amplitude of the circulating melatonin peak between 24 and 46 months of continuous long day exposure. By 3 months after photoreversal to short days, both the amplitude and duration of the peak had adapted to the new scotophase. In short day treated ewes, the melatonin peak was abolished by 46 but not 24 months of short day exposure, and was not fully restored in all ewes 3 months after photoreversal. Mean prolactin levels over 24 h remained high up to 46 months of long day treatment, and declined 3 months after short day exposure. Conversely, mean prolactin levels remained low up to 46 months of short day treatment, increasing 3 months after exposure to long days. Thus: (i) depletion of the melatonin-synthesizing capability of the ovine pineal gland by prolonged exposure to long nights is not completely reversed after 3 months of continuous long day exposure, and (ii) a nocturnal melatonin peak is not essential for maintenance of plasma prolactin levels under these conditions.Special issue dedicated to Dr. Lawrence Austin.     

Use of a homologous internal standard for the quantification of the major metabolite of prostaglandin F2 alpha in human urine by multiple ion analysis

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for quantitative determination of 9 alpha, 11 alpha-dihydroxy-15-oxo-2,3,4,5,20-pentanor-19-carboxyprostanoic acid, the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF-M), was developed. The metabolite was analyzed as the dimethyl ester-O-methyloxime-bis-trimethylsilyl ether derivative. The internal standard consisted of a mixture of diethyl ester + monoethyl ester-delta-lactone of PGF-M. Those two species were converted to the 1-methyl-20-ethyl ester derivative during the analytical process. Linear standard curves were developed in the range 0 to 100 ng of injected prostaglandin. The method comprised extraction with Amberlite XAD-2, methylation, chromatography over octadecasilyl-silica, delactonization, remethylation, and chromatography over silicic acid and Lipidex-5000, followed by methoximation, trimethylsilylation, and instrumental analysis. Interassay coefficient of variation, for the analysis of four identical urine specimens, was 7% and intraassay coefficient of variation, when each sample was injected four times, ranged from 3.2 to 6.0%. Specificity, accuracy, and precision of the method were verified by recovery of the metabolite from two different urine pools. The recovery of authentic, underivatized PGF-M added to urine was 99.1 +/- 2.4% (mean +/- SE, N = 6). The plot of recovered versus added metabolite followed the equation y = 0.936 x + 25.8, with r = 0.9918.     

外科手术增加人的血清抗黑变激素浓度

本工作测定了8个20—39岁男病人在外科手术前、手术中和手术后血清抗黑变激素(meLatonin)的浓度,样本均在日间(11—18时)静脉血中抽取,由甲烷抽提后,用放射免疫法来鉴定和测定浓度。实验结果表明在手术前和手术过程中抗黑变激素浓度高于手术后的浓度(P<0.05)。上述结果提示,增加抗黑变激素的分泌,其作用也许在于平衡应激状态下过量的反应。     

Exposure by males to light emitted from media devices at night is linked with decline of sperm quality and correlated with sleep quality measures

ABSTRACT

The last several decades have been characterized by the widespread usage of digital devices, especially smartphones. At the same time, there have been reports of both decline in sleep duration and quality and male fertility decline. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between evening exposure to the light-emitting screens of digital media devices and measures of both sleep and sperm quality. Semen samples were obtained from 116 men undergoing fertility evaluation for the following sperm variables: volume (mL), pH, sperm concentration (million/mL), motility percentage (progressive% + non-progressive motility%), and total sperm count. Exposure to the screens of electronic devices and sleep habits was obtained by means of a questionnaire. Smartphone and tablet usage in the evening and after bedtime was negatively correlated with sperm motility (?0.392; ?0.369; p < .05), sperm progressive motility (?0.322; ?0.299; p < .05), and sperm concentration (?0.169; p < .05), and positively correlated with the percentage of immotile sperm (0.382; 0.344; p < .05). In addition, sleep duration was positively correlated with sperm total and progressive motility (0.249; 0.233; p < .05) and negatively correlated with semen pH (?0.349; p < .05). A significant negative correlation was observed between subjective sleepiness and total and progressive motility (?0.264; p < .05) as well as total motile sperm number (?0.173; p < .05). The results of this study support a link between evening and post-bedtime exposure to light-emitting digital media screens and sperm quality. Further research is required to establish the proposed causative link and may lead to the future development of relevant therapeutic and lifestyle interventions.     

Melatonin attenuates TNF-α-mediated hepatocytes damage via inhibiting mitochondrial stress and activating the Akt-Sirt3 signaling pathway

The role of mitochondrial dysfunction and its molecular mechanism in inflammation-induced acute liver failure (ALF) remain unknown. Despite the numerous studies performed to date, very few therapies are available for inflammation-induced ALF. Therefore, our study is aimed to explore the regulatory effects of mitochondrial stress and the Akt-Sirt3 pathway on the development of TNF-α-induced hepatocyte death and assess the therapeutic effects of melatonin on the damaged liver. Our results exhibited that TNF-α treatment induced hepatocyte damage in vitro; the effect of which was dose-dependently inhibited by melatonin. At the molecular level, TNF-α-treated hepatocytes expressed lower levels of Sirt3 and subsequently exhibited mitochondrial stress. Interestingly, melatonin treatment improved mitochondrial bioenergetics, reduced mitochondrial oxidative stress, reversed mitochondrial dynamics, and repressed mitochondrial apoptosis by reversing the decrease in Sirt3 expression after TNF-α challenge. In addition, we found that melatonin-regulated Sirt3 expression in a manner dependent on the Akt pathway. Blockade of the Akt pathway abolished the protective exerted by melatonin on mitochondria and hepatocyte under TNF-α treatment. In conclusion, TNF-α promotes hepatocyte apoptosis by inducing mitochondrial stress. However, melatonin significantly increases the activity of the Akt/Sirt3 axis and consequently maintains mitochondrial homeostasis, restoring hepatocyte viability in an inflammatory environment. Thus, the information compiled here might provide important perspectives for the use of melatonin in the clinic for preventive and therapeutic applications in patients with ALF based on its anti-inflammatory and mitochondria-protective effects.     

A review of the multifunctional hormone melatonin and a new hypothesis involving osmoregulation

The pineal hormone melatonin is a potentregulator of seasonal and circadian rhythms invertebrates, among them fish. Melatoninsynthesis shows a diurnal rhythm with higherlevels at night. In recent years, the pinealgland and its major product gained a number ofattributes suggesting their role in integrationof various neural and endocrine functions. Besides the well-established physiologicaleffects mediated via high-affinity cellmembrane receptors belonging to the superfamilyof G-protein – coupled receptors, melatoninreveals direct intracellular actions.This paper attempts to synthesise thephysiological roles of this multifacetedhormone in fish. The use of higher vertebratesparadigms (considering every limit ininterpretation) was essential due to lack ofsatisfactory data on fish. The actions ofmelatonin in major organs responsible forosmoregulation in fish are discussed. Theinfluence of melatonin on water/ion excretionby affecting the circulatory blood hemodynamicand by interrelations with other hormonessystems engaged in water/ion homeostasis areconsidered. New data providing the firstevidence for the presence of melatonin bindingsites in fish gills and kidneys are presented. The paper suggests a new approach that may leadto an improved understanding of osmoregulationprocesses.     

Pinealectomy or light exposure exacerbates biliary damage and liver fibrosis in cholestatic rats through decreased melatonin synthesis

Melatonin, a neuroendocrine hormone synthesized by the pineal gland and cholangiocytes, decreases biliary hyperplasia and liver fibrosis during cholestasis-induced biliary injury via melatonin-dependent autocrine signaling through increased biliary arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) expression and melatonin secretion, downregulation of miR-200b and specific circadian clock genes. Melatonin synthesis is decreased by pinealectomy (PINX) or chronic exposure to light. We evaluated the effect of PINX or prolonged light exposure on melatonin-dependent modulation of biliary damage/ductular reaction/liver fibrosis. Studies were performed in male rats with/without BDL for 1 week with 12:12 h dark/light cycles, continuous light or after 1 week of PINX. The expression of AANAT and melatonin levels in serum and cholangiocyte supernatant were increased in BDL rats, while decreased in BDL rats following PINX or continuous light exposure. BDL-induced increase in serum chemistry, ductular reaction, liver fibrosis, inflammation, angiogenesis and ROS generation were significantly enhanced by PINX or light exposure. Concomitant with enhanced liver fibrosis, we observed increased biliary senescence and enhanced clock genes and miR-200b expression in total liver and cholangiocytes. In vitro, the expression of AANAT, clock genes and miR-200b was increased in PSC human cholangiocyte cell lines (hPSCL). The proliferation and activation of HHStecs (human hepatic stellate cell lines) were increased after stimulating with BDL cholangiocyte supernatant and further enhanced when stimulated with BDL rats following PINX or continuous light exposure cholangiocyte supernatant via intracellular ROS generation. Conclusion: Melatonin plays an important role in the protection of liver against cholestasis-induced damage and ductular reaction.     

褪黑素对盐胁迫下香椿幼苗生长及离子吸收和光合作用的影响

以香椿幼苗为材料,采用水培法研究不同浓度褪黑素(0、50、100、200和400μmol/L)对盐(150 mmol/L NaCl)胁迫下香椿幼苗生长指标、矿质元素离子(Na~+、K~+、Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+))含量、净光合速率(P_n)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、气孔导度(G_s)和胞间CO_2浓度(C_i)等光合作用指标的影响,以探究外源物质褪黑素对盐胁迫下香椿幼苗生长和生理的调控作用。结果表明:(1)在盐胁迫条件下,香椿幼苗的生长受到显著抑制,叶绿素含量和P_n显著降低,叶片和根系中Na~+含量比对照(CK)显著增加,而K~+、Mg~(2+)和Ca~(2+)含量以及离子含量的比值(K~+/Na~+、Mg~(2+)/Na~+和Ca~(2+)/Na~+)则明显下降,且丙二醛含量显著增加。(2)施加适宜浓度褪黑素能显著促进盐胁迫下香椿植株生长,降低其叶片和根系中Na~+含量,提高其K~+、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)含量和离子含量比值以及叶片P_n、T_r、水分利用效率(WUE)和G_s和C_i,但却降低了气孔限制值(L_s)。(3)适宜浓度褪黑素使盐胁迫下香椿植株叶片的丙二醛积累明显下降,叶绿素含量显著上升。研究发现,外施适宜浓度的褪黑素能降低盐胁迫下香椿幼苗叶片和根系内Na~+浓度,增加K~+、Mg~(2+)和Ca~(2+)浓度,调控植物体内细胞的离子平衡状态,增强对营养元素的吸收,提高光合作用效率,从而提高香椿幼苗对盐胁迫的抗性,并以100μmol/L褪黑素处理的效果最佳。