Physiology and pharmacology of melatonin in relation to biological rhythms. Pharmacol Rep. 2009;61:383-410. [PMID: 19605939 DOI: 10.1016/s1734-1140(09)70081-7]

Agomelatine, a novel intriguing antidepressant option enhancing neuroplasticity: a critical review

OBJECTIVES

The treatment of major affective disorders, commonly associated with high disability and elevated social costs may be still considered unsatisfactory. Among all antidepressant drugs, predominantly acting through monoaminergic mechanisms, agomelatine is of particular interest due to another alternative mechanism of action. Targeting melatonergic receptors, agomelatine play a crucial role in synchronizing circadian rhythms, known to be altered in depressed subjects.

METHODS

A critical review of the literature focusing on efficacy, safety and tolerability of agomelatine in major affective disorders was performed. Additionally, we focused on the potential of agomelatine in enhancing neuroplasticity mechanisms and promote neurogenesis. A total of 136 articles from peer-reviewed journals were identified, of which 50 were assessed for eligibility and 21 were included.

RESULTS

Agomelatine, a melatonergic analogue drug acting as MT1/MT2 agonist and 5-HT2C antagonist, has been reported to be effective as antidepressant drug. Studies confirmed not only clinical efficacy but also safety and tolerability of agomelatine. Also, it enhances neuroplasticity mechanisms and adult neurogenesis in brain areas such as hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.

CONCLUSIONS

Agomelatine actually represents an intriguing option in the treatment of affective disorders.

New evidence for cross talk between melatonin and mitochondria mediated by a circadian-compatible interaction with nitric oxide

Extending our previous observations, we have shown on HaCat cells that melatonin, at ~10⁻⁹ M concentration, transiently raises not only the expression of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) mRNA, but also the nNOS protein synthesis and the nitric oxide oxidation products, nitrite and nitrate. Interestingly, from the cell bioenergetic point of view, the activated NO-related chemistry induces a mild decrease of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) efficiency, paralleled by a depression of the mitochondrial membrane potential. The OXPHOS depression is apparently balanced by glycolysis. The mitochondrial effects described have been detected only at nanomolar concentration of melatonin and within a time window of a few hours’ incubation; both findings compatible with the melatonin circadian cycle.

Melatonin effects on hard tissues: bone and tooth

Melatonin is an endogenous hormone rhythmically produced in the pineal gland under the control of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the light/dark cycle. This indole plays an important role in many physiological processes including circadian entrainment, blood pressure regulation, seasonal reproduction, ovarian physiology, immune function, etc. Recently, the investigation and applications of melatonin in the hard tissues bone and tooth have received great attention. Melatonin has been investigated relative to bone remolding, osteoporosis, osseointegration of dental implants and dentine formation. In the present review, we discuss the large body of published evidence and review data of melatonin effects on hard tissues, specifically, bone and tooth.

New radioligands for describing the molecular pharmacology of MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors

Melatonin receptors have been studied for several decades. The low expression of the receptors in tissues led the scientific community to find a substitute for the natural hormone melatonin, the agonist 2-[125I]-iodomelatonin. Using the agonist, several hundreds of studies were conducted, including the discovery of agonists and antagonists for the receptors and minute details about their molecular behavior. Recently, we attempted to expand the panel of radioligands available for studying the melatonin receptors by using the newly discovered compounds SD6, DIV880, and S70254. These compounds were characterized for their affinities to the hMT1 and hMT2 recombinant receptors and their functionality in the classical GTPS system. SD6 is a full agonist, equilibrated between the receptor isoforms, whereas S70254 and DIV880 are only partial MT2 agonists, with Ki in the low nanomolar range while they have no affinity to MT1 receptors. These new tools will hopefully allow for additions to the current body of information on the native localization of the receptor isoforms in tissues.

Melatonin: buffering the immune system

Melatonin modulates a wide range of physiological functions with pleiotropic effects on the immune system. Despite the large number of reports implicating melatonin as an immunomodulatory compound, it still remains unclear how melatonin regulates immunity. While some authors argue that melatonin is an immunostimulant, many studies have also described anti-inflammatory properties. The data reviewed in this paper support the idea of melatonin as an immune buffer, acting as a stimulant under basal or immunosuppressive conditions or as an anti-inflammatory compound in the presence of exacerbated immune responses, such as acute inflammation. The clinical relevance of the multiple functions of melatonin under different immune conditions, such as infection, autoimmunity, vaccination and immunosenescence, is also reviewed.

The effect of preoperative melatonin on nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 activation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery

During and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), oxidative stress occurs. Finding an effective way to improve antioxidant response is important in CABG surgery. It has been shown that patients with coronary heart disease have a low Melatonin production rate. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Melatoninon nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2(Nrf2) activity in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Thirty volunteers undergoing CABG were randomized to receive 10 mg oral Melatonin (Melatonin group, n = 15) or placebo (placebo group, n = 15) before sleeping for 1 month before surgery. The activated Nrf2 was measured twice by DNA-based ELISA method in the nuclear extract of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients before aortic clumps and 45 minutes after CABG operation. Melatonin administration was associated with a significant increase in both plasma levels of Melatonin and Nrf2 concentration in Melatonin group compared to placebo group, respectively (15.2 ± 4.6 pmol/L, 0.28 ± 0.01 versus 1.1 ± 0.59 pmol/L, 0.20 ± 0.07, P < 0.05). The findings of the present study provide preliminary data suggesting that Melatonin may play a significant role in the potentiation of the antioxidant defense and attenuate cellular damages resulting from CABG surgery via theNrf2 pathway.

Characterization of signaling pathways coupled to melatonin receptors in gastrointestinal smooth muscle

Melatonin, a close derivative of serotonin, is involved in physiological regulation of circadian rhythms. In the gastrointestinal (GI) system, melatonin exhibits endocrine, paracrine and autocrine actions and is implicated in the regulation of GI motility. However, it is not known whether melatonin can also act directly on GI smooth muscle cells. The aim of the present study was to determine the expression of melatonin receptors in smooth muscle and identify their signaling pathways. MT1, but not MT2 receptors are expressed in freshly dispersed and cultured gastric smooth muscle cells. Melatonin selectively activated Gq and stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis in freshly dispersed and cultured muscle cells. PI hydrolysis was blocked by the expression of Gq, but not Gi minigene in cultured muscle cells. Melatonin also caused rapid increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) as determined by epifluorescence microscopy in fura-2 loaded single smooth muscle cells, and induced rapid contraction. Melatonin-induced PI hydrolysis and contraction were blocked by a non-selective MT1/MT2 antagonist luzindole (1 μM), but not by a selective MT2 antagonist 4P-PDOT (100 nM), and by the PLC inhibitor U73122. MT2 selective agonist IIK7 (100 nM) had no effect on PI hydrolysis and contraction. We conclude that rabbit gastric smooth muscle cells express melatonin MT1 receptors coupled to Gq. Activation of these receptors causes stimulation of PI hydrolysis and increase in cytosolic Ca(2+), and elicits muscle contraction.

Therapeutic applications of melatonin

Melatonin is a methoxyindole synthesized within the pineal gland. The hormone is secreted during the night and appears to play multiple roles within the human organism. The hormone contributes to the regulation of biological rhythms, may induce sleep, has strong antioxidant action and appears to contribute to the protection of the organism from carcinogenesis and neurodegenerative disorders. At a therapeutic level as well as in prevention, melatonin is used for the management of sleep disorders and jet lag, for the resynchronization of circadian rhythms in situations such as blindness and shift work, for its preventive action in the development of cancer, as additive therapy in cancer and as therapy for preventing the progression of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Psychomotor performance of truck drivers before and after day shifts

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the psychomotor performance of professional drivers in a field setting and in relation to certain variables, including age, behavioral factors, urinary levels of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) normalized to urinary creatinine excretion, and the characteristics of the work shifts.

METHODS

The study was carried out on 16 professional male truck drivers aged 34-53 years. The drivers were submitted to the Vienna Reaction Test (RT) and Vienna Determination Test (DT) and provided urine specimens before and after 39 work shifts. They were also asked to record the road and traffic conditions (motorways, suburban and urban roads, traffic jams, visibility), duration, and mileage for each driving shift.

RESULTS

Using the 50th percentile as a cut point to arbitrarily categorize the performance measurements (Vienna RT reaction time and motor time, Vienna DT reaction time and number of correct reactions) into low and high performance levels, a direct relation emerged between the risk of low performance levels, as assessed by RT reaction time and motor time, and morning urinary levels of aMT6s categorized by tertiles. Before the driving shifts, the odds ratios of low performance levels (adjusted for start time and age) were 8.39 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-57.10) in the highest tertile compared to the lower tertile of aMT6s for RT reaction time and 4.15 (95% CI: 1.26-13.65) for RT motor time, respectively. After driving shifts, negative age-related effects on motor performance were detected. Multiple linear regression analyses, performed using early morning urinary aMT6s levels, age, and driving shift characteristics (start time, duration of driving shift) as predictors of performance measurements, showed aMT6s levels to be the primary independent predictor of RT reaction time before driving shifts and age as the primary predictor of RT motor time after driving shifts. No correlation was found between the risk of low performance levels as assessed by Vienna DT (reaction time and number of correct reactions) and aMT6s levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The wide interindividual variability of urinary aMT6s excretion observed before driving shifts and the direct association between aMT6s levels in the early morning and performance measurements suggest that the circadian typology of drivers should be taken into account when scheduling the work shifts of professional drivers.

The circadian clock: a framework linking metabolism, epigenetics and neuronal function

The circadian clock machinery is responsible for biological timekeeping on a systemic level. The central clock system controls peripheral clocks through a number of output cues that synchronize the system as a whole. There is growing evidence that changing cellular metabolic states have important effects on circadian rhythms and can thereby influence neuronal function and disease. Epigenetic control has also been implicated in the modulation of biological timekeeping, and cellular metabolism and epigenetic state seem to be closely linked. We discuss the idea that cellular metabolic state and epigenetic mechanisms might work through the circadian clock to regulate neuronal function and influence disease states.

Melatonin prevents hemorrhagic shock-induced liver injury in rats through an Akt-dependent HO-1 pathway

Although melatonin treatment following trauma-hemorrhage or ischemic reperfusion prevents organs from dysfunction and injury, the precise mechanism remains unknown. This study tested whether melatonin prevents liver injury following trauma-hemorrhage involved the protein kinase B (Akt)-dependent heme oxygenase (HO)-1 pathway. After a 5-cm midline laparotomy, male rats underwent hemorrhagic shock (mean blood pressure approximately 40 mmHg for 90 min) followed by fluid resuscitation. At the onset of resuscitation, rats were treated with vehicle, melatonin (2 mg/kg), or melatonin plus phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin (1 mg/kg). At 2 hr after trauma-hemorrhage, the liver tissue myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde, adenosine triphosphate, serum alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly increased compared with sham-operated control. Trauma-hemorrhage resulted in a significant decrease in the Akt activation in comparison with the shams (relative density, 0.526 ± 0.031 versus 1.012 ± 0.066). Administration of melatonin following trauma-hemorrhage normalized liver Akt phosphorylation (0.993 ± 0.061), further increased mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation (5.263 ± 0.338 versus 2.556 ± 0.225) and HO-1 expression (5.285 ± 0.325 versus 2.546 ± 0.262), and reduced cleaved caspase-3 levels (2.155 ± 0.297 versus 5.166 ± 0.309). Coadministration of wortmannin abolished the melatonin-mediated attenuation of the shock-induced liver injury markers. Our results collectively suggest that melatonin prevents hemorrhagic shock-induced liver injury in rats through an Akt-dependent HO-1 pathway.

Pineal arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (Aanat) gene expression as a target of inflammatory mediators in the chicken

Previously, we demonstrated that experimental peritonitis in chickens was attenuated by treatment with exogenous melatonin, while the developing inflammation decreased pineal AANAT activity. This suggested the existence of a bidirectional relationship between the activated immune system and pineal gland function. The aim of the present study was to identify the step(s) in the chicken pineal melatonin biosynthetic pathway that are affected by inflammation. Peritonitis was evoked by i.p. injection of thioglycollate solution, either 2h after the start, or 2h before the end of the light period, and the animals were sacrificed 4h later. The effect of inflammation on the expression of genes encoding enzymes participating in melatonin biosynthesis in the pineal gland, i.e. tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (Tph1), dopa decarboxylase (Ddc), arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (Aanat) and acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (Asmt), was evaluated by qPCR. The pineal and serum melatonin concentration as well as the content of its precursors in the pineal gland were measured, along with the activity of the relevant biosynthetic enzymes. Developing peritonitis caused an increase in the pineal levels of the Tph1 mRNA during the night and the Asmt mRNA during the day, while nocturnal Aanat transcription was reduced. Both the pineal and serum melatonin level and the pineal content of N-acetylserotonin (NAS) were decreased during the night in birds with peritonitis. The amount and activity of pineal AANAT were significantly reduced, while the activity of HIOMT was increased under these experimental conditions. These results indicate that the observed decrease in MEL biosynthesis in chickens with developing inflammation is a result of transcriptional downregulation of the Aanat gene, followed by reduced synthesis and activity of the encoded enzyme.

Twice daily melatonin peaks in Siberian but not Syrian hamsters under 24 h light:dark:light:dark cycles

The daily pattern of blood-borne melatonin varies seasonally under the control of a multi-oscillator circadian pacemaker. Here we examine patterns of melatonin secretion and locomotor activity in Siberian and Syrian hamsters entrained to bimodal LDLD8:4:8:4 and LD20:4 lighting schedules that facilitate novel temporal arrangements of component circadian oscillators. Under LDLD, both species robustly bifurcated wheel-running activity in distinct day scotophase (DS) and night scotophase (NS) bouts. Siberian hamsters displayed significant melatonin increases during each scotophase in LDLD, and in the single daily scotophase of LD20:4. The bimodal melatonin secretion pattern persisted in acutely extended 16 h scotophases. Syrian hamsters, in contrast, showed no significant increases in plasma melatonin during either scotophase of LDLD8:4:8:4 or in LD20:4. In this species, detectable levels were observed only when the DS of LDLD was acutely extended to yield 16 h of darkness. Established species differences in the phase lag of nocturnal melatonin secretion relative to activity onset may underlie the above contrast: In non-bifurcated entrainment to 24 h LD cycles, Siberian hamsters show increased melatonin secretion within ≈ 2 h after activity onset, whereas in Syrian hamsters, detectable melatonin secretion phase lags activity onset and the L/D transition by at least 4 h. The present results provide new evidence indicating multi-oscillator regulation of the waveform of melatonin secretion, specifically, the circadian control of the onset, offset and duration of nocturnal secretion.

Neurophysiology of circadian rhythm sleep disorders of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities

This article reviews circadian rhythm sleep disorders (CRSDs) of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. These sleep disturbances frequently occur in this population but they are misunderstood and under diagnosed. The causes and features of CRSD in children with brain disorders differ in many ways from those seen in typically developing children. It is the brain, including the eyes, which regulates sleep and circadian rhythmicity by modulating pineal melatonin production/secretion and when there is significant brain damage, the sleep/wake patterns may be modified. In most instances CRSD are not disorders of the suprachiasmatic nuclei because these small hypothalamic structures only adjust their functions to the changing photic and non-photic modulatory influences. Each form of CRSD is accompanied by characteristic changes in serum melatonin levels and clinical features. When nocturnal melatonin production/secretion is inappropriately timed or impaired in relation to the environment, timed melatonin replacement therapy will often be beneficial. In this review an attempt is made to clarify the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the various forms of CRSD because without understanding the photic and non-photic influences on sleep, these sleep disorders can not be fully characterized, defined or even appropriately treated. In the future, the existing definitions for the different forms of CRSD should be modified by experts in pediatric sleep medicine in order to include children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Dietary factors and fluctuating levels of melatonin

Melatonin is secreted principally by the pineal gland and mainly at nighttime. The primary physiological function is to convey information of the daily cycle of light and darkness to the body. In addition, it may have other health-related functions. Melatonin is synthesized from tryptophan, an essential dietary amino acid. It has been demonstrated that some nutritional factors, such as intake of vegetables, caffeine, and some vitamins and minerals, could modify melatonin production but with less intensity than light, the most dominant synchronizer of melatonin production. This review will focus on the nutritional factors apart from the intake of tryptophan that affect melatonin levels in humans. Overall, foods containing melatonin or promoting the synthesis of it by impacting the availability of tryptophan, as well those containing vitamins and minerals which are needed as co-factors and activators in the synthesis of melatonin, may modulate the levels of melatonin. Even so, the influence of daytime diet on the synthesis of nocturnal melatonin is limited, however, the influence of the diet seems to be more obvious on the daytime levels.

Melatonin and the metabolic syndrome: a tool for effective therapy in obesity-associated abnormalities?

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities associated with increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. Apart from its powerful antioxidant properties, the pineal gland hormone melatonin has recently attracted the interest of various investigators as a multifunctional molecule. Melatonin has been shown to have beneficial effects in cardiovascular disorders including ischaemic heart disease and hypertension. However, its role in cardiovascular risk factors including obesity and other related metabolic abnormalities is not yet established, particularly in humans. New emerging data show that melatonin may play an important role in body weight regulation and energy metabolism. This review will address the role of melatonin in the MetS focusing on its effects in obesity, insulin resistance and leptin resistance. The overall findings suggest that melatonin should be exploited as a therapeutic tool to prevent or reverse the harmful effects of obesity and its related metabolic disorders.

Circadian disruption and remedial interventions: effects and interventions for jet lag for athletic peak performance

Jet lag has potentially serious deleterious effects on performance in athletes following transmeridian travel, where time zones are crossed eastwards or westwards; as such, travel causes specific effects related to desynchronization of the athlete's internal body clock or circadian clock. Athletes are particularly sensitive to the effects of jet lag, as many intrinsic aspects of sporting performance show a circadian rhythm, and optimum competitive results require all aspects of the athlete's mind and body to be working in tandem at their peak efficiency. International competition often requires transmeridian travel, and competition timings cannot be adjusted to suit individual athletes. It is therefore in the interest of the individual athlete and team to understand the effects of jet lag and the potential adaptation strategies that can be adopted. In this review, we describe the underlying genetic and physiological mechanisms controlling the circadian clock and its inherent ability to adapt to external conditions on a daily basis. We then examine the fundamentals of the various adaptation stimuli, such as light, chronobiotics (e.g. melatonin), exercise, and diet and meal timing, with particular emphasis on their suitability as strategies for competing athletes on the international circuit. These stimuli can be artificially manipulated to produce phase shifts in the circadian rhythm to promote adaptation in the optimum direction, but care must be taken to apply them at the correct time and dose, as the effects produced on the circadian rhythm follow a phase-response curve, with pronounced shifts in direction at different times. Light is the strongest realigning stimulus and careful timing of light exposure and avoidance can promote adjustment. Chronobiotics such as melatonin can also be used to realign the circadian clock but, as well as timing and dosage issues, there are also concerns as to its legal status in different countries and with the World Anti-Doping Agency. Experimental data concerning the effects of food intake and exercise timing on jet lag is limited to date in humans, and more research is required before firm guidelines can be stated. All these stimuli can also be used in pre-flight adaptation strategies to promote adjustment in the required direction, and implementation of these is described. In addition, the effects of individual variability at the behavioural and genetic levels are also discussed, along with the current limitations in assessment of these factors, and we then put forward three case studies, as examples of practical applications of these strategies, focusing on adaptations to travel involving competition in the Rugby Sevens World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Finally, we provide a list of practice points for optimal adaptation of athletes to jet lag.

The expression of melanopsin and clock genes in Xenopus laevis melanophores and their modulation by melatonin

Vertebrates have a central clock and also several peripheral clocks. Light responses might result from the integration of light signals by these clocks. The dermal melanophores of Xenopus laevis have a photoreceptor molecule denominated melanopsin (OPN4x). The mechanisms of the circadian clock involve positive and negative feedback. We hypothesize that these dermal melanophores also present peripheral clock characteristics. Using quantitative PCR, we analyzed the pattern of temporal expression of Opn4x and the clock genes Per1, Per2, Bmal1, and Clock in these cells subjected to a 14-h light:10-h dark (14L:10D) regime or constant darkness (DD). Also, in view of the physiological role of melatonin in the dermal melanophores of X. laevis, we determined whether melatonin modulates the expression of these clock genes. These genes show a time-dependent expression pattern when these cells are exposed to 14L:10D, which differs from the pattern observed under DD. Cells kept in DD for 5 days exhibited overall increased mRNA expression for Opn4x and Clock, and a lower expression for Per1, Per2, and Bmal1. When the cells were kept in DD for 5 days and treated with melatonin for 1 h, 24 h before extraction, the mRNA levels tended to decrease for Opn4x and Clock, did not change for Bmal1, and increased for Per1 and Per2 at different Zeitgeber times (ZT). Although these data are limited to one-day data collection, and therefore preliminary, we suggest that the dermal melanophores of X. laevis might have some characteristics of a peripheral clock, and that melatonin modulates, to a certain extent, melanopsin and clock gene expression.

Neuroanatomical distribution of the orphan GPR50 receptor in adult sheep and rodent brains

GPR50, formerly known as melatonin-related receptor, is one of three subtypes of the melatonin receptor subfamily, together with the MT(1) and MT(2) receptors. By contrast to these two high-affinity receptor subtypes and despite its high identity with the melatonin receptor family, GPR50 does not bind melatonin or any other known ligand. Specific and reliable immunological tools are therefore needed to be able to elucidate the physiological functions of this orphan receptor that are still largely unknown. We have generated and validated a new specific GPR50 antibody against the ovine GPR50 and used it to analyse the neuroanatomical distribution of the GPR50 in sheep, rat and mouse whole brain. We demonstrated that GPR50-positive cells are widely distributed in various regions, including the hypothalamus and the pars tuberalis of the pituitary, in all the three species studied. GPR50 expressing cells are abundant in the dorsomedial nucleus of the hypothalamus, the periventricular nucleus and the median eminence. In rodents, immunohistochemical studies revealed a broader distribution pattern for the GPR50 protein. GPR50 immunoreactivity is found in the medial preoptic area (MPA), the lateral septum, the lateral hypothalamic area, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the vascular organ of the laminae terminalis and several regions of the amygdala, including the medial nuclei of amygdala. Additionally, in the rat brain, GPR50 protein was localised in the CA1 pyramidal cell layer of the dorsal hippocampus. In mice, moderate to high numbers of GPR50-positive cells were also found in the subfornical organ. Taken together, these results provide an enlarged distribution of GPR50 protein, give further insight into the organisation of the melatoninergic system, and may lay the framework for future studies on the role of the GPR50 in the brain.

Protective effect of melatonin on acute pancreatitis

Melatonin, a product of the pineal gland, is released from the gut mucosa in response to food ingestion. Specific receptors for melatonin have been detected in many gastrointestinal tissues including the pancreas. Melatonin as well as its precursor, L-tryptophan, attenuates the severity of acute pancreatitis and protects the pancreatic tissue from the damage caused by acute inflammation. The beneficial effect of melatonin on acute pancreatitis, which has been reported in many experimental studies and supported by clinical observations, is related to: (1) enhancement of antioxidant defense of the pancreatic tissue, through direct scavenging of toxic radical oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species, (2) preservation of the activity of antioxidant enzymes; such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), or glutathione peroxidase (GPx), (3) the decline of pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis α (TNFα) production, accompanied by stimulation of an anti-inflammatory IL-10, (4) improvement of pancreatic blood flow and decrease of neutrophil infiltration, (5) reduction of apoptosis and necrosis in the inflamed pancreatic tissue, (6) increased production of chaperon protein (HSP60), and (7) promotion of regenerative process in the pancreas. Conclusion. Endogenous melatonin produced from L-tryptophan could be one of the native mechanisms protecting the pancreas from acute damage and accelerating regeneration of this gland. The beneficial effects of melatonin shown in experimental studies suggest that melatonin ought to be employed in the clinical trials as a supportive therapy in acute pancreatitis and could be used in people at high risk for acute pancreatitis to prevent the development of pancreatic inflammation.

Pineal cyst apoplexy: report of an unusual case managed conservatively

Pineal cyst apoplexy is a very rare entity with previously reported symptoms of severe frontal or occipital headache, gaze paresis and visual field defects, nausea or vomiting, syncope, ataxia, hearing loss and sudden death. The treatment options for symptomatic pineal cysts are observation, shunting, aspiration via stereotactic guidance or endoscopy, third ventriculostomy, ventriculocysternostomy, and/or surgical resection by craniotomy and microsurgery. Here, the authors report an unusual case of a 28-year-old male patient with pineal cyst apoplexy, presenting with headache, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction symptoms who is being managed conservatively and observed for two years by an academic tertiary care unit.

Nanomolar melatonin enhances nNOS expression and controls HaCaT-cells bioenergetics

A novel role of melatonin was unveiled, using immortalized human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) as a model system. Within a time window compatible with its circadian rhythm, melatonin at nanomolar concentration raised both the expression level of the neuronal nitric oxide synthase mRNA and the nitric oxide oxidation products, nitrite and nitrate. On the same time scale, a depression of the mitochondrial membrane potential was detected together with a decrease of the oxidative phosphorylation efficiency, compensated by glycolysis as testified by an increased production of lactate. The melatonin concentration, ∼ nmolar, inducing the bioenergetic effects and their time dependence, both suggest that the observed nitric oxide-induced mitochondrial changes might play a role in the metabolic pathways characterizing the circadian melatonin chemistry.

Beneficial effects of endogenous and exogenous melatonin on neural reconstruction and functional recovery in an animal model of spinal cord injury

The purpose of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of endogenous and exogenous melatonin on functional recovery in an animal model of spinal cord injury (SCI). Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD, 250-260 g) rats were used for contusion SCI surgery. All experimental groups were maintained under one of the following conditions: 12/12-hr light/dark (L/D) or 24:0-hr constant light (LL). Melatonin (10 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously for 4 wk, twice daily (07:00, 19:00). Locomotor recovery, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), glial fibrillary acidic protein gene expression, and muscle atrophy-related genes, including muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx) and muscle-specific ring-finger protein 1 (MuRF1) gene expression were evaluated. Furthermore, autophagic signaling such as Beclin-1 and LC3 protein expression was examined in the spinal cord and in skeletal muscle. The melatonin treatment resulted in increased hind-limb motor function and decreased iNOS mRNA expression in the L/D condition compared with the LL condition (P < 0.05), indicating that endogenous melatonin had neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, the MAFbx, MuRF1 mRNA level, and converted LC3 II protein expression were decreased in the melatonin-treated SCI groups under the LL (P < 0.05), possibly in response to the exogenous melatonin treatment. Therefore, it seems that both endogenous and exogenous melatonin contribute to neural recovery and to the prevention of skeletal muscle atrophy, promoting functional recovery after SCI. Finally, this study supports the benefit of endogenous melatonin and use of exogenous melatonin as a therapeutic intervention for SCI.

Treatment with beta-hydroxybutyrate and melatonin is associated with improved survival in a porcine model of hemorrhagic shock

INTRODUCTION

The neuroprotective ketone β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and the antioxidant melatonin have been found at elevated levels in hibernating mammals. Previous studies in rat models of hemorrhagic shock have suggested a benefit. We compared infusion of 4M BHB and 43 mM melatonin (BHB/M) to 4M sodium chloride and 20% DMSO (control solution) to evaluate for potential benefits in porcine hemorrhagic shock.

METHODS

Hemorrhagic shock was induced to obtain systolic blood pressures <50 mmHg for 60 min. Pigs were treated with a bolus of either BHB/M (n=9) or control solution (n=8) followed by 4-h infusion of the either BHB/M or control solution. All animals were then resuscitated for 20 h after shock. Physiological data were continually recorded, and blood samples were taken at intervals throughout the experiment. Serum samples were analyzed via high resolution NMR for metabolomic response.

RESULTS

BHB/M treatment significantly increased 24-h survival time when compared to treatment with control solution (100% versus 62%; p=0.050), with a trend toward decreased volume of resuscitative fluid administered to animals receiving BHB/M. BHB/M-treated animals had lower base deficit and higher oxygen consumption when compared to animals receiving control solution. Serum metabolite profiles revealed increases in β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), succinate, 2-oxovalerate and adipate with BHB/M treatment as compared with animals treated with control infusion.

CONCLUSION

Infusion of BHB/M conferred a survival benefit over infusion of control solution in hemorrhagic shock. BHB and its products of metabolism are identified in serum of animals subjected to shock and treated with BHB/M. Further preclinical studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of action of this promising treatment strategy.

Influence of photoperiod on hormones, behavior, and immune function

Photoperiodism is the ability of plants and animals to measure environmental day length to ascertain time of year. Central to the evolution of photoperiodism in animals is the adaptive distribution of energetically challenging activities across the year to optimize reproductive fitness while balancing the energetic tradeoffs necessary for seasonally-appropriate survival strategies. The ability to accurately predict future events requires endogenous mechanisms to permit physiological anticipation of annual conditions. Day length provides a virtually noise free environmental signal to monitor and accurately predict time of the year. In mammals, melatonin provides the hormonal signal transducing day length. Duration of pineal melatonin is inversely related to day length and its secretion drives enduring changes in many physiological systems, including the HPA, HPG, and brain-gut axes, the autonomic nervous system, and the immune system. Thus, melatonin is the fulcrum mediating redistribution of energetic investment among physiological processes to maximize fitness and survival.

Melatonin in experimental seizures and epilepsy

Although melatonin is approved only for the treatment of jet-lag syndrome and some types of insomnia, clinical data suggest that it is effective in the adjunctive therapy of osteoporosis, cataract, sepsis, neurodegenerative diseases, hypertension, and even cancer. Melatonin also modulates the electrical activity of neurons by reducing glutamatergic and enhancing GABA-ergic neurotransmission. The indoleamine may also be metabolized to kynurenic acid, an endogenous anticonvulsant. Finally, the hormone and its metabolites act as free radical scavengers and antioxidants. The vast majority of experimental data indicates anticonvulsant properties of the hormone. Melatonin inhibited audiogenic and electrical seizures, as well as reduced convulsions induced by pentetrazole, pilocarpine, L-cysteine and kainate. Only a few studies have shown direct or indirect proconvulsant effects of melatonin. For instance, melatonin enhanced low Mg2+-induced epileptiform activity in the hippocampus, whereas melatonin antagonists delayed the onset of pilocarpine-induced seizures. However, the relatively high doses of melatonin required to inhibit experimental seizures can induce some undesired effects (e.g., cognitive and motor impairment and decreased body temperature). In humans, melatonin may attenuate seizures, and it is most effective in the treatment of juvenile intractable epilepsy. Its additional benefits include improved physical, emotional, cognitive, and social functions. On the other hand, melatonin has been shown to induce electroencephalographic abnormalities in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and increase seizure activity in neurologically disabled children. The hormone showed very low toxicity in clinical practice. The reported adverse effects (nightmares, hypotension, and sleep disorders) were rare and mild. However, more placebo-controlled, double-blind randomized clinical trials are needed to establish the usefulness of melatonin in the adjunctive treatment of epilepsy.

Neurochemical and neuropharmacological aspects of circadian disruptions: an introduction to asynchronization

Circadian disruptions are common in modern society, and there is an urgent need for effective treatment strategies. According to standard diagnostic criteria, most adolescents showing both insomnia and daytime sleepiness are diagnosed as having behavioral-induced sleep efficiency syndrome resulting from insomnia due to inadequate sleep hygiene. However, a simple intervention of adequate sleep hygiene often fails to treat them. As a solution to this clinical problem, the present review first overviews the basic neurochemical and neuropharmachological aspects of sleep and circadian rhythm regulation, then explains several circadian disruptions from similar viewpoints, and finally introduces the clinical notion of asynchronization. Asynchronization is designated to explain the pathophysiology/pathogenesis of exhibition of both insomnia and hypersomnia in adolescents, which comprises disturbances in various aspects of biological rhythms. The major triggers for asynchronization are considered to be a combination of light exposure during the night, which disturbs the biological clock and decreases melatonin secretion, as well as a lack of light exposure in the morning, which prohibits normal synchronization of the biological clock to the 24-hour cycle of the earth and decreases the activity of serotonin. In the chronic phase of asynchronization, involvement of both wake- and sleep-promoting systems is suggested. Both conventional and alternative therapeutic approaches for potential treatment of asynchronization are suggested.

Pinealectomy aggravates acute pancreatitis in the rat

Melatonin, a pineal indoleamine, protects the pancreas against acute damage; however, the involvement of the pineal gland in the pancreatoprotective action of melatonin is unknown. The primary aim of this study was to determine the effects of pinealectomy on the course of acute caerulein-induced pancreatitis (AP) in rats. AP was induced by a subcutaneous infusion of caerulein (25 μg/kg) into pinealectomized or sham-operated animals. Melatonin (5 or 25 mg/kg) was given via intraperitoneal (ip) injection 30 min prior to the induction of AP. The pancreatic content of the lipid peroxidation products malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal (MDA + 4HNE) and the activity of an antioxidative enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), were measured in each group of rats. Melatonin blood levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). In the sham-operated rats, AP was confirmed with histological examination and manifested as pancreatic edema and an increase in the blood lipase level (by 1,500%). In addition, the pancreatic content of MDA+ 4HNE was increased by 200%, and pancreatic glutathione peroxydase (GSH-Px) activity was reduced by 40%. Pinealectomy significantly aggravated the histological manifestations of AP, reduced the GSH-Px activity and markedly augmented the levels of MDA+ 4HNE in the pancreas of rats with or without AP as compared to sham-operated animals. Melatonin was undetectable in the blood of the pinealectomized rats with or without AP. Treatment with melatonin (25 mg/kg, ip) prevented the development of AP in the sham-operated rats and significantly reduced pancreatic inflammation in the animals previously subjected to pinealectomy. In conclusion, pineal melatonin contributes to the pancreatic protection through the activation of the antioxidative defense mechanism in pancreatic tissue as well as its direct antioxidant effects.

Melatonin has membrane receptor-independent hypnotic action on neurons: an hypothesis

Melatonin, which is known to have sleep-promoting properties, has no morpho-physiological barriers and readily enters neurons and their subcellular compartments from both the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. It has multiple receptor-dependent and receptor-independent functions. Sleep is a neuronal function, and it can no longer be postulated that one or more anatomical structures fully control sleep. Neurons require sleep for metabolically driven restorative purposes, and as a result, the process of sleep is modulated by peripheral and central mechanisms. This is an important finding because it suggests that melatonin should have intracellular sleep-inducing properties. Based on recent evidence, it is proposed that melatonin induces sleep at the neuronal level independently of its membrane receptors. Thus, the hypnotic action of melatonin and the mechanisms involving the circadian rhythms are separate neurological functions. This is contrary to the presently accepted view.

Spectral modulation attenuates molecular, endocrine, and neurobehavioral disruption induced by nocturnal light exposure

The human eye serves distinctly dual roles in image forming (IF) and non-image-forming (NIF) responses when exposed to light. Whereas IF responses mediate vision, the NIF responses affect various molecular, neuroendocrine, and neurobehavioral variables. NIF responses can have acute and circadian phase-shifting effects on physiological variables. Both the acute and phase-shifting effects induced by photic stimuli demonstrate short-wavelength sensitivity peaking ≈450-480 nm. In the current study, we examined the molecular, neuroendocrine, and neurobehavioral effects of completely filtering (0% transmission) all short wavelengths <480 nm and all short wavelengths <460 nm or partially filtering (~30% transmission) <480 nm from polychromatic white light exposure between 2000 and 0800 in healthy individuals. Filtering short wavelengths <480 nm prevented nocturnal light-induced suppression of melatonin secretion, increased cortisol secretion, and disrupted peripheral clock gene expression. Furthermore, subjective alertness, mood, and errors on an objective vigilance task were significantly less impaired at 0800 by filtering wavelengths <480 nm compared with unfiltered nocturnal light exposure. These changes were not associated with significantly increased sleepiness or fatigue compared with unfiltered light exposure. The changes in molecular, endocrine, and neurobehavioral processes were not significantly improved by completely filtering <460 nm or partially filtering <480 nm compared with unfiltered nocturnal light exposure. Repeated light-dark cycle alterations as in rotating nightshifts can disrupt circadian rhythms and induce health disorders. The current data suggest that spectral modulation may provide an effective method of regulating the effects of light on physiological processes.

Model-based human circadian phase estimation using a particle filter

We present a method for tracking an individual's circadian phase that integrates dynamic models of circadian physiology with physiological measurements in a Bayesian statistical framework. A model of the circadian pacemaker's response to light exposure is transformed into a nonlinear state-space model with a circadian phase state. The probability distribution of the circadian phase is estimated by a particle filter that predicts changes over time based on the model, and performs updates with information gained from physiological measurements. Simulations demonstrate how probability distributions allow flexible initialization of model states and enable statistical quantification of entrainment and divergence properties of the circadian pacemaker. The combined use of sleep-wake scheduling data and physiological measurements is demonstrated in a case study highlighting advantages for addressing the challenge of noninvasive ambulatory monitoring of circadian physiology.

Photoentrainment in blind and sighted rodent species: responses to photophase light with different wavelengths

Our study examined the impact of daylight (photophase) wavelength on the photoentrainment sensitivity of two species with vastly different visual systems. Social voles (Microtus socialis) and ‘blind’ mole rats (Spalax ehrenbergi) were exposed to short-wavelength (479 nm) or long-wavelength (697 nm) light at an intensity of 293 μW cm–2. Rhythms of urine production, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SMT), urinary metabolites of adrenaline and cortisol, and oxygen consumption (VO2) were used as markers for the sensitivity of the photoentrainment system. Significant 24-h rhythms were detected in all variables for both species under short-wavelength light, whereas ultradian rhythms of 12- or 8-h were detected under long-wavelength light. Wavelength inversely affected 6-SMT levels in M. socialis (negative correlation) and S. ehrenbergi (positive correlation). Increased levels of stress hormone metabolites were detected in M. socialis under the long-wavelength light whereas, in S. ehrenbergi elevated levels were secreted under short-wavelength light. Long-wavelength light increased VO2 in M. socialis and decreased it in S. ehrenbergi; short-wavelength light elicited the opposite effects. Our results indicate that photophase wavelength is an integral light property for modulating photoperiodic responses in mammals, including visually challenged species. Finally, the spectral-induced differential responses between the two species potentially represent adaptive physiological flexibility in species with contrasting visual and habitat challenges.

Therapeutics for Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders

The sleep-wake cycle is regulated by the interaction of endogenous circadian and homeostatic processes. The circadian system provides timing information for most physiological rhythms, including the sleep and wake cycle. In addition, the central circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus has been shown to promote alertness during the day. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders arise when there is a misalignment between the timing of the endogenous circadian rhythms and the external environment or when there is dysfunction of the circadian clock or its entrainment pathways. The primary synchronizing agents of the circadian system are light and melatonin. Light is the strongest entraining agent of circadian rhythms and timed exposure to bright light is often used in the treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders. In addition, timed administration of melatonin, either alone or in combination with light therapy has been shown to be useful in the treatment of the following circadian rhythm sleep disorders: delayed sleep phase, advanced sleep phase, free-running, irregular sleep wake, jet lag and shift work.

Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells

Life on earth is subject to alternating cycles of day and night imposed by the rotation of the earth. Consequently, living things have evolved photodetective systems to synchronize their physiology and behavior with the external light-dark cycle. This form of photodetection is unlike the familiar "image vision," in that the basic information is light or darkness over time, independent of spatial patterns. "Nonimage" vision is probably far more ancient than image vision and is widespread in living species. For mammals, it has long been assumed that the photoreceptors for nonimage vision are also the textbook rods and cones. However, recent years have witnessed the discovery of a small population of retinal ganglion cells in the mammalian eye that express a unique visual pigment called melanopsin. These ganglion cells are intrinsically photosensitive and drive a variety of nonimage visual functions. In addition to being photoreceptors themselves, they also constitute the major conduit for rod and cone signals to the brain for nonimage visual functions such as circadian photoentrainment and the pupillary light reflex. Here we review what is known about these novel mammalian photoreceptors.

Neurotoxins: free radical mechanisms and melatonin protection

Toxins that pass through the blood-brain barrier put neurons and glia in peril. The damage inflicted is usually a consequence of the ability of these toxic agents to induce free radical generation within cells but especially at the level of the mitochondria. The elevated production of oxygen and nitrogen-based radicals and related non-radical products leads to the oxidation of essential macromolecules including lipids, proteins and DNA. The resultant damage is referred to as oxidative and nitrosative stress and, when the molecular destruction is sufficiently severe, it causes apoptosis or necrosis of neurons and glia. Loss of brain cells compromises the functions of the central nervous system expressed as motor, sensory and cognitive deficits and psychological alterations. In this survey we summarize the publications related to the following neurotoxins and the protective actions of melatonin: aminolevulinic acid, cyanide, domoic acid, kainic acid, metals, methamphetamine, polychlorinated biphenyls, rotenone, toluene and 6-hydroxydopamine. Given the potent direct free radical scavenging activities of melatonin and its metabolites, their ability to indirectly stimulate antioxidative enzymes and their efficacy in reducing electron leakage from mitochondria, it would be expected that these molecules would protect the brain from oxidative and nitrosative molecular mutilation. The studies summarized in this review indicate that this is indeed the case, an action that is obviously assisted by the fact that melatonin readily crosses the blood brain barrier.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms and mRNA expression for melatonin synthesis rate-limiting enzyme in recurrent depressive disorder

Depressive disorder (DD) is characterised by disturbances in blood melatonin concentration. It is well known that melatonin is involved in the control of circadian rhythms, sleep included. The use of melatonin and its analogues has been found to be effective in depression therapy. Melatonin synthesis is a multistage process, where the last stage is catalysed by acetylserotonin methyltransferase (ASMT), the reported rate-limiting melatonin synthesis enzyme. Taking into account the significance of genetic factors in depression development, the gene for ASMT may become an interesting focus for studies in patients with recurrent DD. The goal of the study was to evaluate two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4446909; rs5989681) of the ASMT gene, as well as mRNA expression for ASMT in recurrent DD-affected patients. We genotyped two polymorphisms in a group of 181 recurrent DD patients and in 149 control subjects. The study was performed using the polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method. The distribution of genotypes in both studied SNPs in the ASMT gene differed significantly between DD and healthy subjects. The presence of AA genotype of rs4446909 polymorphism and of GG genotype of rs5989681 polymorphism was associated with lower risk for having recurrent DD. In turn, patients with depression were characterised by reduced mRNA expression for ASMT. In addition, ASMT transcript level in both recurrent DD patients and in healthy subjects depended significantly on genotype distributions in both polymorphisms. In conclusion, our results suggest the ASMT gene as a susceptibility gene for recurrent DD.

Melatonin and circadian biology in human cardiovascular disease

Diurnal rhythms influence cardiovascular physiology, i.e. heart rate and blood pressure, and they appear to also modulate the incidence of serious adverse cardiac events. Diurnal variations occur also at the molecular level including changes in gene expression in the heart and blood vessels. Moreover, the risk/benefit ratio of some therapeutic strategies and the concentration of circulating cardiovascular system biomarkers may also vary across the 24-hr light/dark cycle. Synchrony between external and internal diurnal rhythms and harmony among molecular rhythms within the cell are essential for normal organ biology. Diurnal variations in the responsiveness of the cardiovascular system to environmental stimuli are mediated by a complex interplay between extracellular (i.e. neurohumoral factors) and intracellular (i.e. specific genes that are differentially light/dark regulated) mechanisms. Neurohormones, which are particularly relevant to the cardiovascular system, such as melatonin, exhibit a diurnal variation and may play a role in the synchronization of molecular circadian clocks in the peripheral tissue and the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Moreover, mounting evidence reveals that the blood melatonin rhythm has a crucial role in several cardiovascular functions, including daily variations in blood pressure. Melatonin has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, chronobiotic and, possibly, epigenetic regulatory functions. This article reviews current knowledge related to the biological role of melatonin and its circadian rhythm in cardiovascular disease.

Antidepressant- and anxiolytic effects of the novel melatonin agonist Neu-P11 in rodent models

AIM

To investigate the potential antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of Neu-P11, a novel melatonin agonist, in two models of depression in rats and a model of anxiety in mice.

METHODS

In the learned helplessness test (LH), Neu-P11 or melatonin (25-100 mg/kg, ip) was administered to rats 2 h before the beginning of the dark phase once a day for 5 days and the number of escape failures and intertrial crossings during the test phase were recorded. In the forced swimming test (FST), rats received a single or repeated administration of Neu-P11 (25-100 mg/kg, ip). The total period of immobility during the test phase was assessed. In the elevated plus-maze test (EPM), mice were treated with Neu-P11 (25-100 mg/kg, ip) or melatonin in the morning or in the evening and tested 2 h later. The percentage of time spent in the open arms and the open arms entries were assessed.

RESULTS

In the LH test, Neu-P11 but not melatonin significantly decreased the escape deficit and had no effect on the intertrial crossings. In the FST, a single or repeated administration of Neu-P11, either in the morning or in the evening, significantly decreased the duration of immobility. In the EPM test, Neu-P11 significantly increased the percentage of time spent in the open arms and the open arms entries irrespective to the time of administration. Melatonin was effective only when administered in the afternoon.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate that Neu-P11 exerts antidepressant and anxiolytic activities in rodent models.

Melatonin signaling and cell protection function

Besides its well-known regulatory role on circadian rhythm, the pineal gland hormone melatonin has other biological functions and a distinct metabolism in various cell types and peripheral tissues. In different tissues and organs, melatonin has been described to act as a paracrine and also as an intracrine and autocrine agent with overall homeostatic functions and pleiotropic effects that include cell protection and prosurvival factor. These latter effects, documented in a number of in vitro and in vivo studies, are sustained through both receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms that control detoxification and stress response genes, thus conferring protection against a number of xenobiotics and endobiotics produced by acute and chronic noxious stimuli. Redox-sensitive components are included in the cell protection signaling of melatonin and in the resulting transcriptional response that involves the control of NF-κB, AP-1, and Nrf2. By these pathways, melatonin stimulates the expression of antioxidant and detoxification genes, acting in turn as a glutathione system enhancer. A further and converging mechanism of cell protection by this indoleamine described in different models seems to lie in the control of damage and signaling function of mitochondria that involves decreased production of reactive oxygen species and activation of the antiapoptotic and redox-sensitive element Bcl2. Recent evidence suggests that upstream components in this mitochondrial route include the calmodulin pathway with its central role in melatonin signaling and the survival-promoting component of MAPKs, ERK1/2. In this review article, we will discuss these and other molecular aspects of melatonin signaling relevant to cell protection and survival mechanisms.

Expression of the orphan GPR50 protein in rodent and human dorsomedial hypothalamus, tanycytes and median eminence

The melatonin receptor family is composed of three members, MT(1) and MT(2) receptors that bind melatonin with high affinity and the orphan GPR50 that does not bind melatonin but shares significant sequence homology with the two other subtypes. In the absence of any known ligand for this orphan receptor, little is still known about its function. We recently reported the development of the first anti-GPR50 antibodies that reliably recognized the recombinant human GPR50. We here used these antibodies to study the expression of GPR50 in mouse, rat and human hypothalamus, a region reported to express GPR50 mRNA. GPR50 immunoreactivity (ir) was observed in dorsomedial hypothalamic (DMH) cells co-stained with the neuronal marker HuC/D. GPR50-ir was also observed in cells of the ependymal layer of the third ventricle that co-stained with vimentin. More specifically, its localization in the lower region of the third ventricle and along the long basal processes contacting portal blood vessels in the median eminence (ME) suggested expression of GPR50 in tanycytes. Consistent staining patterns were observed in all three species with two different antibodies. Taken together, our study validates two GPR50-specific antibodies for the use in rodent and human tissue. Evolutionary conserved expression of GPR50 in DMH neurons and tanycytes, together with previously reported expression of the receptor in the pituitary, support the potentially important role of GPR50 in key hypothalamic functions, including regulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary axes.

Melatonin: a multitasking molecule

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) has revealed itself as an ubiquitously distributed and functionally diverse molecule. The mechanisms that control its synthesis within the pineal gland have been well characterized and the retinal and biological clock processes that modulate the circadian production of melatonin in the pineal gland are rapidly being unravelled. A feature that characterizes melatonin is the variety of mechanisms it employs to modulate the physiology and molecular biology of cells. While many of these actions are mediated by well-characterized, G-protein coupled melatonin receptors in cellular membranes, other actions of the indole seem to involve its interaction with orphan nuclear receptors and with molecules, for example calmodulin, in the cytosol. Additionally, by virtue of its ability to detoxify free radicals and related oxygen derivatives, melatonin influences the molecular physiology of cells via receptor-independent means. These uncommonly complex processes often make it difficult to determine specifically how melatonin functions to exert its obvious actions. What is apparent, however, is that the actions of melatonin contribute to improved cellular and organismal physiology. In view of this and its virtual absence of toxicity, melatonin may well find applications in both human and veterinary medicine.