Effects of α-MSH and melatonin on passive avoidance and on PA-induced defecation and plasma 11-OHCS in hypophysectomized rats

The present study shows that α-MSH facilitates the acquisition and delays the extinction of a Passive Avoidance Response (PAR) in the hypox animals. MSH exacerbates PA-induced defecation in both hypox and sham-hypox animals. Hypox and sham-hypox animals treated with MSH do not differ on PAR or on PA-induced defecation. Melatonin, on the other hand, has no significant effect on PAR in hypox rats, but retards acquisition and facilitates extinction of the PAR in sham-hypox rats. Melatonin also inhibits PA-induced defecation in sham-hypox rats. Sham-hypox and hypox rats treated with Melatonin do not differ on PAR learning, retention (Extinction) and PA-induced defecation. MSH and Melatonin also seem to have opposite effects on plasma 11-OHCS levels measured at the end of PAR extinction. MSH increases plasma 11-OHCS in hypox rats, whereas Melatonin decreases plasma 11-OHCS in sham-hypox rats. Melatonin does not lower further the very low level of plasma 11-OHCS in hypox rats.     

Prolonged melatonin administration in 6-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats: metabolic alterations

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of prolonged melatonin administration on chosen metabolic and hormonal variables in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Melatonin was administered in tap water (4 microg/ml) daily from the 6th month of age. Rats were fed a standard type of diet ad libitum and were kept in a light regimen L:D--12:12h. The experiment was terminated after 12 weeks of melatonin administration. Melatonin decreased body mass during the whole experiment in females and from the 42nd day of the experiment in males. Relative heart muscle weight in females and absolute/relative thymus weight in males were increased after melatonin administration. Melatonin decreased glycaemia, heart muscle glycogen concentration in females and liver glycogen concentration in both sexes. Serum insulin concentration in males was decreased; serum corticosterone concentration was increased in both males and females. Serum triacylglycerol and heart muscle cholesterol concentration in females were decreased, however in males serum and heart muscle cholesterol concentration was increased. Liver phospholipid concentration in females was decreased and heart muscle phospholipid concentration in males was increased. Melatonin increased malondialdehyde concentration in heart muscle in males and in liver in both sexes. Melatonin induced prominent sex-dependent changes in both carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.     

Crosstalk between melatonin and nitric oxide in plant development and stress responses

Melatonin is widely involved in plant growth and stress responses as a master regulator. Melatonin treatment alters the levels of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) and NO affects endogenous melatonin content. Melatonin and NO may induce various plant physiological behavior through interaction mechanism. However, the interactions between melatonin and NO in plants are largely unknown. The review presented the metabolism of endogenous melatonin and NO and their relationship in plants. The interactions between melatonin and NO in plant growth and development and responses to environmental stress were summarized. The molecular mechanisms of interaction between melatonin and NO in plants were also proposed.     

褪黑素受体

褪黑素是松果体分泌的主要激素,其功能活动通过特异的Ｇ蛋白耦联受体介导,本文综述褪黑素受体 分布、药理学特性,受体的克隆及受体基因结构特点。     

Minireview: Versatile Melatonin: A Pervasive Molecule Serves Various Functions in Signaling and Protection

Melatonin, which is able to enter all tissues and all compartments of the cell, acts in a highly pleiotropic fashion. Some melatonin effects are mediated by membrane receptors, others are receptor independent. Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland and various extrapineal organs of vertebrates, but is also found in invertebrates, angiosperms, and unicells. In mammals, melatonin elicits various secondary humoral responses, e.g., in the immune system via interleukin-4 and other cytokines and in the brain by modulation of NO formation. Melatonin is also a powerful radical scavenger, terminating free radical reaction chains initiated by photooxidants, hydroxyl or peroxyl radicals. The protective potency of this indoleamine is demonstrated by various experiments.     

Minireview: Versatile Melatonin: A Pervasive Molecule Serves Various Functions in Signaling and Protection

Melatonin, which is able to enter all tissues and all compartments of the cell, acts in a highly pleiotropic fashion. Some melatonin effects are mediated by membrane receptors, others are receptor independent. Melatonin is produced in the pineal gland and various extrapineal organs of vertebrates, but is also found in invertebrates, angiosperms, and unicells. In mammals, melatonin elicits various secondary humoral responses, e.g., in the immune system via interleukin-4 and other cytokines and in the brain by modulation of NO formation. Melatonin is also a powerful radical scavenger, terminating free radical reaction chains initiated by photooxidants, hydroxyl or peroxyl radicals. The protective potency of this indoleamine is demonstrated by various experiments.     

Melatonin: Nature's most versatile biological signal?

Melatonin is a ubiquitous molecule and widely distributed in nature, with functional activity occurring in unicellular organisms, plants, fungi and animals. In most vertebrates, including humans, melatonin is synthesized primarily in the pineal gland and is regulated by the environmental light/dark cycle via the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Pinealocytes function as 'neuroendocrine transducers' to secrete melatonin during the dark phase of the light/dark cycle and, consequently, melatonin is often called the 'hormone of darkness'. Melatonin is principally secreted at night and is centrally involved in sleep regulation, as well as in a number of other cyclical bodily activities. Melatonin is exclusively involved in signaling the 'time of day' and 'time of year' (hence considered to help both clock and calendar functions) to all tissues and is thus considered to be the body's chronological pacemaker or 'Zeitgeber'. Synthesis of melatonin also occurs in other areas of the body, including the retina, the gastrointestinal tract, skin, bone marrow and in lymphocytes, from which it may influence other physiological functions through paracrine signaling. Melatonin has also been extracted from the seeds and leaves of a number of plants and its concentration in some of this material is several orders of magnitude higher than its night-time plasma value in humans. Melatonin participates in diverse physiological functions. In addition to its timekeeping functions, melatonin is an effective antioxidant which scavenges free radicals and up-regulates several antioxidant enzymes. It also has a strong antiapoptotic signaling function, an effect which it exerts even during ischemia. Melatonin's cytoprotective properties have practical implications in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Melatonin also has immune-enhancing and oncostatic properties. Its 'chronobiotic' properties have been shown to have value in treating various circadian rhythm sleep disorders, such as jet lag or shift-work sleep disorder. Melatonin acting as an 'internal sleep facilitator' promotes sleep, and melatonin's sleep-facilitating properties have been found to be useful for treating insomnia symptoms in elderly and depressive patients. A recently introduced melatonin analog, agomelatine, is also efficient for the treatment of major depressive disorder and bipolar affective disorder. Melatonin's role as a 'photoperiodic molecule' in seasonal reproduction has been established in photoperiodic species, although its regulatory influence in humans remains under investigation. Taken together, this evidence implicates melatonin in a broad range of effects with a significant regulatory influence over many of the body's physiological functions.     

低温胁迫下褪黑激素对烟草悬浮细胞精氨酸脱羧酶活性的影响

研究了褪黑激素对烟草(Nicotiana tabacum)悬浮细胞在低温胁迫下精氨酸脱羧酶活性及细胞生存率的影响.发现褪黑激素可以明显提高低温胁迫下烟草悬浮细胞精氨酸脱羧酶的活性,并明显提高细胞的生存率.表明褪黑激素可能在低温条件下通过调节植物细胞内多胺的合成而提高抵御冷害的能力.     

低温胁迫下褪黑激素对烟草悬浮细胞精氨酸脱羧酶活性的影响

研究了褪黑激素对烟草(Nicotiana tabacum)悬浮细胞在低温胁迫下精氨酸脱羧酶活性及细胞生存率的影响。发现褪黑激素可以明显提高低温胁迫下烟草悬浮细胞精氨酸脱羧酶的活性, 并明显提高细胞的生存率。表明褪黑激素可能在低温条件下通过调节植物细胞内多胺的合成而提高抵御冷害的能力。     

褪黑色素对缰核痛神经元单位放电的影响及可能机制

目的通过观察褪黑色素对缰核痛神经元单位放电的影响,进一步证明褪黑色素的中枢镇痛作用及可能机制。方法：应用细胞外神经元单位放电记录方法,记录缰核神经元痛相关神经元放电,并观察外侧缰核痛神经元在褪黑色素作用下电活动的改变,及对伤害性刺激痛敏感性的改变,在此基础上观察纳洛酮的翻转作用。结果：褪黑色素影响外侧缰核痛神经元的电活动,并使外侧缰核痛神经元对伤害性刺激敏感性降低,此种作用可被纳洛酮翻转。结论：褪黑色素可通过作用于外侧缰核的阿片受体而影响其痛相关神经元对痛刺激的反应,这可能是褪黑色素中枢镇痛机制之一。     

Gastrointestinal melatonin: cellular identification and biological role

Melatonin, a pineal hormone, because of its wide activity spectrum, is a subject of much current interest for biologists and physicians. It has been demonstrated that pineal gland is not an exclusive source of melatonin synthesis. Melatonin synthesis has been found in different sites of the organism, and a major source of extrapineal melatonin is the gastrointestinal tract. The role of melatonin in gastrointestinal functions is considered in the present review.     

Exogenously applied melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) affects flowering of the short-day plant Chenopodium rubrum

Melatonin ( N -acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an animal hormone synthesized predominantly at night. It often serves as a signal of darkness that regulates circadian rhythmicity and photoperiodism. Melatonin has also been found in algae and higher plants, including the short-day flowering plant Chenopodium rubrum . To test its involvement in plant photoperiodism, melatonin solutions were applied to the cotyledons and plumules of 5-day-old-seedlings of Chenopodium rubrum L., ecotype 374. ³H-labelled melatonin was readily taken up by the plants and was very stable for a period of 37 h from application. Treatment with 100 and 500 µ M melatonin significantly reduced flowering of plants exposed to a single inductive 12-h darkness. Melatonin was efficient only when applied before lights off or during the first half of the dark period. This indicates that melatonin affects some early steps of the transition to flowering. However, it had no effect on the period or phase of a circadian rhythm in photoperiodic time measurement. Melatonin agonists (2-I-melatonin, 6-Cl-melatonin, CGP 52608) and 5-hydroxytryptamine also reduced flowering, whereas 5-methoxytryptamine did not. The results demonstrate that exogenous melatonin is able to influence the early stages of photoperiodic flower induction and/or flower development in a higher plant. Possible mechanisms for this effect are discussed.     

Melatonin and aging

Although many theories relating the pineal secretory product melatonin to aging have been put forward, the role of this agent in the aging process is not clear. However, there are several reasons to postulate a role for melatonin in this process. Melatonin levels fall gradually over the life-span. Melatonin is a potent free radical scavenger. Melatonin deficiency is related to suppressed immunocompetence. In at least one animal model melatonin supplementation increased life-span although several other studies have failed. The aging process is multifactorial, and no single element seems to be of basic importance. It seems, however, that although melatonin can not be univocally recognized as a substance delaying aging, some of its actions may be beneficial for the process of aging. However, the precise role of melatonin in the aging process remains to be determined.     

Essential actions of melatonin in protecting the ovary from oxidative damage

Free radicals and other reactive species are involved in normal ovarian physiology. However, they are also highly reactive with complex cellular molecules (proteins, lipids, and DNA) and alter their functions leading to oxidative stress. Oxidative damage may play a prominent role in the development of disorders that considerably influence female fertility. Melatonin, because of its amphiphilic nature that allows for crossing morphophysiological barriers, is an effective antioxidant for protecting macromolecules against oxidative stress caused by reactive species. The balance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants within the follicle seems to be critical to the function of the oocyte and granulosa cells and evidence has accumulated showing that melatonin is involved in the protection of these cells. Melatonin appears to have varied functions at different stages of follicle development, oocyte maturation, and luteal stage. Melatonin concentration in the growing follicle may be an important factor in avoiding atresia, because melatonin in the follicular fluid reduces apoptosis of critical cells. Melatonin also has protective actions during oocyte maturation reducing intrafollicular oxidative damage. An association between melatonin concentrations in follicular fluid and oocyte quality has been reported; this would allow a preovulatory follicle to fully develop and provide a competent oocyte for fertilization. The functional role of reactive species and the cytoprotective properties of melatonin on the ovary from oxidative damage are summarized in this brief review.     

Serum levels of melatonin in cancer patients and their relation to body sizes

Melatonin secretion is often enhanced in patients with cancer. In the light of a reported correlation between melatonin levels and body size, we investigated blood levels of this pineal hormone in a group of 72 patients affected by cancer, 30 of whom had body weight within the normal range, 30 were obese and the last 12 cases had body weight below the normal range, in order to establish whether in fact melatonin blood concentrations were related to body size. Melatonin levels were high in 19/72 patients (26%). The mean levels of the pineal hormone were similar in patients with normal, low and high body weight. Finally, there was no significant correlation between melatonin values and body weight, height or surface. Melatonin secretion thus does not appear to be influenced by body size in cancer patients.     

Significance of melatonin in antioxidative defense system: reactions and products

Melatonin is a potent endogenous free radical scavenger, actions that are independent of its many receptor-mediated effects. In the last several years, hundreds of publications have confirmed that melatonin is a broad-spectrum antioxidant. Melatonin has been reported to scavenge hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), hydroxyl radical (HO(.)), nitric oxide (NO(.)), peroxynitrite anion (ONOO(-)), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)), superoxide anion (O(2)(-).) and peroxyl radical (LOO(.)), although the validity of its ability to scavenge O(2)(-). and LOO(.) is debatable. Regardless of the radicals scavenged, melatonin prevents oxidative damage at the level of cells, tissues, organs and organisms. The antioxidative mechanisms of melatonin seem different from classical antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione. As electron donors, classical antioxidants undergo redox cycling; thus, they have the potential to promote oxidation as well as prevent it. Melatonin, as an electron-rich molecule, may interact with free radicals via an additive reaction to form several stable end-products which are excreted in the urine. Melatonin does not undergo redox cycling and, thus, does not promote oxidation as shown under a variety of experimental conditions. From this point of view, melatonin can be considered a suicidal or terminal antioxidant which distinguishes it from the opportunistic antioxidants. Interestingly, the ability of melatonin to scavenge free radicals is not in a ratio of mole to mole. Indeed, one melatonin molecule scavenges two HO. Also, its secondary and tertiary metabolites, for example, N(1)-acetyl-N(2)-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine, N-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine and 6-hydroxymelatonin, which are believed to be generated when melatonin interacts with free radicals, are also regarded as effective free radical scavengers. The continuous free radical scavenging potential of the original molecule (melatonin) and its metabolites may be defined as a scavenging cascade reaction. Melatonin also synergizes with vitamin C, vitamin E and glutathione in the scavenging of free radicals. Melatonin has been detected in vegetables, fruits and a variety of herbs. In some plants, especially in flowers and seeds (the reproductive organs which are most vulnerable to oxidative insults), melatonin concentrations are several orders of magnitude higher than measured in the blood of vertebrates. Melatonin in plants not only provides an alternative exogenous source of melatonin for herbivores but also suggests that melatonin may be an important antioxidant in plants which protects them from a hostile environment that includes extreme heat, cold and pollution, all of which generate free radicals.     

Effect of melatonin on hemolymph glucose and lactate levels in the fiddler crab Uca pugilator

Melatonin was injected into intact and eyestalk-ablated fiddler crabs (Uca pugilator), and its effects on hemolymph glucose and lactate levels were studied. In intact crabs, glucose and lactate levels cycled simultaneously, with peaks occurring during early and late photophase. Melatonin caused a shift in the glucose and lactate cycles, with only one peak occurring closer to mid-photophase. In eyestalk-ablated animals, the glucose rhythmicity was lost; lactate cycled, but levels were significantly lower than in intact animals. Melatonin caused a delayed hyperglycemia in eyestalk-ablated animals, with concurrent but much lower increases in lactate. Overall, melatonin demonstrated delayed hyperglycemic effects that do not appear to be mediated solely via eyestalk factors such as crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH), though involvement of the eyestalks cannot be ruled out. An influence on extra-eyestalk CHH secretion is a potential mechanism of melatonin activity.     

The oxidant/antioxidant network: role of melatonin

Melatonin is now known to be a multifaceted free radical scavenger and antioxidant. It detoxifies a variety of free radicals and reactive oxygen intermediates including the hydroxyl radical, peroxynitrite anion, singlet oxygen and nitric oxide. Additionally, it reportedly stimulates several antioxidative enzymes including glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase; conversely, it inhibits a prooxidative enzyme, nitric oxide synthase. Melatonin also crosses all morphophysiological barriers, e.g., the blood-brain barrier, placenta, and distributes throughout the cell; these features increase the efficacy of melatonin as an antioxidant. Melatonin has been shown to markedly protect both membrane lipids and nuclear DNA from oxidative damage. In every experimental model in which melatonin has been tested, it has been found to resist macromolecular damage and the associated dysfunction associated with free radicals.     

Melatonin reduces arousal and startle responsiveness without influencing startle habituation or affective startle modulation in young women

Melatonin has been suggested to affect human emotion, but conflicting evidence exists. Therefore, we tested the effect of a single dose of a 4 mg prolonged release formulation of melatonin on a biologically based model of emotional processing. Affective modulation of acoustic white noise startle (103 dB) by emotional slides selected from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) was assessed in 16 healthy young women twice, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, balanced cross-over design. Melatonin significantly reduced startle responsiveness, but did not impact affective startle modulation, nor startle habituation. Melatonin significantly reduced arousal ratings and induced a parasympathetically dominated heart rate variability pattern indicative of a non-aroused state. We conclude that melatonin reduces arousal and startle responsiveness. However, no evidence for a direct emotion-modulating effect of melatonin was found in this healthy cohort.