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Lavie P. My voyage in the enchanted world of sleep. SLEEP ADVANCES : A JOURNAL OF THE SLEEP RESEARCH SOCIETY 2024; 5:zpae027. [PMID: 38765778 PMCID: PMC11100432 DOI: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpae027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
In this paper, I describe my 45-year career in sleep research. I started my undergraduate studies at Tel Aviv University, where I was first introduced to the enchanted world of sleep, continued to my graduate studies with Wilse B. Webb at the University of Florida, and then to post-doctoral training with Dan Kripke at the University of California at San Diego. Then, I describe the evolution of my academic career at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, where I started in 1975 as an Assistant Professor and retired in 2019 as the President of the Institute. I describe the areas of research that I pursued and how the research developed, emphasizing unexpected results that guided me and my lab team in new directions. This includes my early studies on ultradian rhythms, inspired by Nathaniel Kleitman's Basic Rest Activity Cyle hypothesis, utilizing the ultrashort sleep-wake paradigm to chart the 24-hour sleep propensity function, and how these studies led us to explore the role of melatonin in sleep regulation. I also explain why we directed our attention to sleep apnea, and how clinical observations led to the provocative hypothesis that sleep apnea-typically seen as a disorder-may also play a protective role. Under the leadership of my research partner and wife, Lena, we confirmed this hypothesis. Also in this article, I describe my enthusiasm for the history of our field and, as derived from my experience as a Dean of Medicine and President of a university, I share my philosophy about the role of members of academia in society. I emphasize that none of my achievements could have been accomplished without the hard work and motivation of my students and research partners, who shared my enthusiasm and passion for the enchanted world of sleep. This paper is part of the Living Legends in Sleep Research series, which is sponsored by Idorsia Pharmaceuticals and Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peretz Lavie
- Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
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2
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Vidafar P, Spitschan M. Light on Shedding: A Review of Sex and Menstrual Cycle Differences in the Physiological Effects of Light in Humans. J Biol Rhythms 2023; 38:15-33. [PMID: 36367137 PMCID: PMC9902977 DOI: 10.1177/07487304221126785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The human circadian system responds to light as low as 30 photopic lux. Furthermore, recent evidence shows that there are huge individual differences in light sensitivity, which may help to explain why some people are more susceptible to sleep and circadian disruption than others. The biological mechanisms underlying the differences in light sensitivity remain largely unknown. A key variable of interest in understanding these individual differences in light sensitivity is biological sex. It is possible that in humans, males and females differ in their sensitivity to light, but the evidence is inconclusive. This is in part due to the historic exclusion of women in biomedical research. Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle in women has often been cited as a confound by researchers. Attitudes, however, are changing with funding and publication agencies advocating for more inclusive research frameworks and mandating that women and minorities participate in scientific research studies. In this article, we distill the existing knowledge regarding the relationship between light and the menstrual cycle. There is some evidence of a relationship between light and the menstrual cycle, but the nature of this relationship seems dependent on the timing of the light source (sunlight, moonlight, and electric light at night). Light sensitivity may be influenced by biological sex and menstrual phase but there might not be any effect at all. To better understand the relationship between light, the circadian system, and the menstrual cycle, future research needs to be designed thoughtfully, conducted rigorously, and reported transparently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Vidafar
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Translational Sensory and Circadian Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Manuel Spitschan
- Translational Sensory and Circadian Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- TUM Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- TUM Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
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3
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Hagström A, Kal Omar R, Williams PA, Stålhammar G. The rationale for treating uveal melanoma with adjuvant melatonin: a review of the literature. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:398. [PMID: 35413810 PMCID: PMC9006630 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09464-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Uveal melanoma is a rare form of cancer with high mortality. The incidence of metastases is attributed to early seeding of micrometastases from the eye to distant organs, primarily the liver. Once these seeded clusters of dormant tumor cells grow into larger radiologically detectable macrometastases, median patient survival is about 1 year. Melatonin is an important hormone for synchronizing circadian rhythms. It is also involved in other aspects of human physiology and may offer therapeutic benefits for a variety of diseases including cancer. Methods Articles involving the physiological effects of melatonin, pharmacokinetics, and previous use in cancer studies were acquired using a comprehensive literature search in the Medline (PubMed) and Web of Science databases. In total, 147 publications were selected and included in the review. Results Melatonin has been observed to suppress the growth of cancer cells, inhibit metastatic spread, enhance immune system functions, and act as an anti-inflammatory in both in vitro and in vivo models. Melatonin may also enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments such as immuno- and chemotherapy. Numerous studies have shown promising results for oral melatonin supplementation in patients with other forms of cancer including cutaneous malignant melanoma. Cell line and animal studies support a hypothesis in which similar benefits may exist for uveal melanoma. Conclusions Given its low cost, good safety profile, and limited side effects, there may be potential for the use of melatonin as an adjuvant oncostatic treatment. Future avenues of research could include clinical trials to evaluate the effect of melatonin in prevention of macrometastases of uveal melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Hagström
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, D1:04, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Ruba Kal Omar
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, D1:04, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Pete A Williams
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gustav Stålhammar
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Eye and Vision, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, 171 64, Stockholm, Sweden.,St. Erik Eye Hospital, Box 4078, 171 04, Stockholm, Sweden
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4
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Das NK, Samanta S. The potential anti-cancer effects of melatonin on breast cancer. EXPLORATION OF MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.37349/emed.2022.00078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Melatonin is the primary hormone of the pineal gland that is secreted at night. It regulates many physiological functions, including the sleep-wake cycle, gonadal activity, free radical scavenging, immunomodulation, neuro-protection, and cancer progression. The precise functions of melatonin are mediated by guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein (G-protein) coupled melatonin receptor 1 (MT1) and MT2 receptors. However, nuclear receptors are also associated with melatonin activity. Circadian rhythm disruption, shift work, and light exposure at night hamper melatonin production. Impaired melatonin level promotes various pathophysiological changes, including cancer. In our modern society, breast cancer is a serious problem throughout the world. Several studies have been indicated the link between low levels of melatonin and breast cancer development. Melatonin has oncostatic properties in breast cancer cells. This indolamine advances apoptosis, which arrests the cell cycle and regulates metabolic activity. Moreover, melatonin increases the treatment efficacy of cancer and can be used as an adjuvant with chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naba Kumar Das
- Department of Physiology, Midnapore College, Midnapore 721101, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India
| | - Saptadip Samanta
- Department of Physiology, Midnapore College, Midnapore 721101, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India
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5
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Cipolla-Neto J, Amaral FG, Soares JM, Gallo CC, Furtado A, Cavaco JE, Gonçalves I, Santos CRA, Quintela T. The Crosstalk between Melatonin and Sex Steroid Hormones. Neuroendocrinology 2022; 112:115-129. [PMID: 33774638 DOI: 10.1159/000516148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin, an indolamine mainly released from the pineal gland, is associated with many biological functions, namely, the modulation of circadian and seasonal rhythms, sleep inducer, regulator of energy metabolism, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic. Although several pieces of evidence also recognize the influence of melatonin in the reproductive physiology, the crosstalk between melatonin and sex hormones is not clear. Here, we review the effects of sex differences in the circulating levels of melatonin and update the current knowledge on the link between sex hormones and melatonin. Furthermore, we explore the effects of melatonin on gonadal steroidogenesis and hormonal control in females. The literature review shows that despite the strong evidence that sex differences impact on the circadian profiles of melatonin, reports are still considerably ambiguous, and these differences may arise from several factors, like the use of contraceptive pills, hormonal status, and sleep deprivation. Furthermore, there has been an inconclusive debate about the characteristics of the reciprocal relationship between melatonin and reproductive hormones. In this regard, there is evidence for the role of melatonin in gonadal steroidogenesis brought about by research that shows that melatonin affects multiple transduction pathways that modulate Sertoli cell physiology and consequently spermatogenesis, and also estrogen and progesterone production. From the outcome of our research, it is possible to conclude that understanding the correlation between melatonin and reproductive hormones is crucial for the correction of several complications occurring during pregnancy, like preeclampsia, and for the control of climacteric symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Cipolla-Neto
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - José Maria Soares
- Laboratório de Ginecologia Estrutural e Molecular (LIM 58), Disciplina de Ginecologia, Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, HCFMUSP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - André Furtado
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - José Eduardo Cavaco
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Isabel Gonçalves
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | | | - Telma Quintela
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
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6
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Beltran-Frutos E, Casarini L, Santi D, Brigante G. Seasonal reproduction and gonadal function: A focus on humans starting from animal studies. Biol Reprod 2021; 106:47-57. [PMID: 34718419 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Photoperiod impacts reproduction in many species of mammals. Mating occurs at specific seasons to achieve reproductive advantages, such as optimization of offspring survival. Light is the main regulator of these changes during the photoperiod. Seasonally breeding mammals detect and transduce light signals through extraocular photoreceptor, regulating downstream melatonin-dependent peripheral circadian events. In rodents, hormonal reduction and gonadal atrophy occur quickly, and consensually with short-day periods. It remains unclear whether photoperiod influences human reproduction. Seasonal fluctuations of sex hormones have been described in humans, although they seem to not imply adaptative seasonal pattern in human gonads. This review discusses current knowledge about seasonal changes in the gonadal function of vertebrates, including humans. The photoperiod-dependent regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, as well as morphological and functional changes of the gonads are evaluated herein. Endocrine and morphological variations of reproductive functions, in response to photoperiod, are of interest as they may reflect the nature of past population selection for adaptative mechanisms that occurred during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Beltran-Frutos
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Aging Institute, IMIB-Arrixaca. School of Medicine, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia. Spain
| | - Livio Casarini
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,Center for Genomic Research, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Daniele Santi
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Brigante
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
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Jansen EC, Hector EC, Goodrich JM, Cantoral A, Téllez Rojo MM, Basu N, Song PXK, Olascoaga LT, Peterson KE. Mercury exposure in relation to sleep duration, timing, and fragmentation among adolescents in Mexico City. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 191:110216. [PMID: 32956656 PMCID: PMC7750915 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mercury intoxication is known to be associated with adverse symptoms of fatigue and sleep disturbances, but whether low-level mercury exposure could affect sleep remains unclear. In particular, children may be especially vulnerable to both mercury exposures and to poor sleep. We sought to examine associations between mercury levels and sleep disturbances in Mexican youth. METHODS The study sample comprised 372 youth from the Early Life Exposures to Environmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) cohort, a birth cohort from Mexico City. Sleep (via 7-day actigraphy) and concurrent urine mercury were assessed during a 2015 follow-up visit. Mercury was also assessed in mid-childhood hair, blood, and urine during an earlier study visit, and was considered a secondary analysis. We used linear regression and varying coefficient models to examine non-linear associations between Hg exposure biomarkers and sleep duration, timing, and fragmentation. Unstratified and sex-stratified analyses were adjusted for age and maternal education. RESULTS During the 2015 visit, participants were 13.3 ± 1.9 years, and 48% were male. There was not a cross-sectional association between urine Hg and sleep characteristics. In secondary analysis using earlier biomarkers of Hg, lower and higher blood Hg exposure was associated with longer sleep duration among girls only. In both boys and girls, Hg biomarker levels in 2008 were associated with later adolescent sleep midpoint (for Hg urine in girls, and for blood Hg in boys). For girls, each unit log Hg was associated with 0.2 h later midpoint (95% CI 0 to 0.4), and for boys each unit log Hg was associated with a 0.4 h later sleep midpoint (95% CI 0.1 to 0.8). CONCLUSIONS There were mostly null associations between Hg exposure and sleep characteristics among Mexican children. Yet, in both boys and girls, higher Hg exposure in mid-childhood (measured in urine and blood, respectively) was related to later sleep timing in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica C Jansen
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Division of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Emily C Hector
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jaclyn M Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Martha María Téllez Rojo
- Center for Research on Nutrition and Health, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Peter X K Song
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Libni Torres Olascoaga
- Center for Research on Nutrition and Health, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico
| | - Karen E Peterson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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8
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Liu Y, Téllez-Rojo M, Hu H, Sánchez BN, Martinez-Mier EA, Basu N, Mercado-García A, Solano-González M, Peterson KE. Fluoride exposure and pubertal development in children living in Mexico City. Environ Health 2019; 18:26. [PMID: 30922319 PMCID: PMC6439980 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-019-0465-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous animal and ecological studies have provided evidence for an earlier sexual maturation in females in relation to fluoride exposure; however, no epidemiological studies have examined the association between fluoride exposure and pubertal development in both boys and girls using individual-level biomarkers of fluoride. Capitalizing on an ongoing Mexican birth cohort study, we examined the association between concurrent urinary fluoride levels and physical markers of pubertal development in children. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 157 boys and 176 girls at age 10-17 years living in Mexico City. We used ion-selective electrode-based diffusion methods to assess fluoride levels in urine, adjusting for urinary specific gravity. Pubertal stages were evaluated by a trained physician. Associations of fluoride with pubertal stages and age at menarche were studied using ordinal regression and Cox proportional-hazard regression, respectively. RESULTS In the entire sample, the geometric mean and interquartile range (IQR) of urinary fluoride (specific gravity adjusted) were 0.59 mg/L and 0.31 mg/L, respectively. In boys, our analysis showed that a one-IQR increase in urinary fluoride was associated with later pubic hair growth (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51-0.98, p = 0.03) and genital development (OR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.53-0.95, p = 0.02). No significant associations were found in girls, although the direction was negative. CONCLUSIONS Childhood fluoride exposure, at the levels observed in our study, was associated with later pubertal development among Mexican boys at age 10-17 years. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Liu
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Martha Téllez-Rojo
- Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Ave. Universidad 655, Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Mor, 62100, México.
| | - Howard Hu
- Occupational and Environmental Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Brisa N Sánchez
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - E Angeles Martinez-Mier
- Department of Cariology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Adriana Mercado-García
- Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Ave. Universidad 655, Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Mor, 62100, México
| | - Maritsa Solano-González
- Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health, Ave. Universidad 655, Santa María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Mor, 62100, México
| | - Karen E Peterson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Haghi-Aminjan H, Asghari MH, Farhood B, Rahimifard M, Hashemi Goradel N, Abdollahi M. The role of melatonin on chemotherapy-induced reproductive toxicity. J Pharm Pharmacol 2017; 70:291-306. [DOI: 10.1111/jphp.12855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
Reproductive malfunctions after chemotherapy still are a reason of reducing fertility and need specialized intensive care. The aim of this review was to investigate the effect of melatonin on the reproductive system under threatening with chemotherapeutic drugs.
Methods
To find the role of melatonin in the reproductive system during chemotherapy, a full systematic literature search was carried out based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines in the electronic databases up to 17 April 2017 using search terms in the titles and abstracts. A total of 380 articles are screened according to our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Finally, 18 articles were included in this study.
Key findings
It has been cleared that melatonin has bilateral effects on reproductive cells. Melatonin protects normal cells via mechanisms, including decrease in oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation and modulating mitochondrial function, and sexual hormones. Furthermore, melatonin with antiproliferative properties and direct effects on its receptors improves reproductive injury and function during chemotherapy. On the other hand, melatonin sensitizes the effects of chemotherapeutic drugs and enhances chemotherapy-induced toxicity in cancerous cells through increasing apoptosis, oxidative stress and mitochondrial malfunction.
Conclusions
The study provides evidence of the bilateral role of melatonin in the reproductive system during chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Haghi-Aminjan
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Asghari
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Bagher Farhood
- Departments of Medical Physics and Radiology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mahban Rahimifard
- Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasser Hashemi Goradel
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Abdollahi
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Tagliaferri V, Romualdi D, Scarinci E, Cicco SD, Florio CD, Immediata V, Tropea A, Santarsiero CM, Lanzone A, Apa R. Melatonin Treatment May Be Able to Restore Menstrual Cyclicity in Women With PCOS: A Pilot Study. Reprod Sci 2017; 25:269-275. [PMID: 28558523 DOI: 10.1177/1933719117711262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of 6 months of melatonin administration on clinical, endocrine, and metabolic features of women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This is a prospective cohort study including 40 normal-weight women with PCOS between January and September 2016, enrolled in an academic research environment. Ultrasonographic pelvic examinations, hirsutism score evaluation, hormonal profile assays, oral glucose tolerance test, and lipid profile at baseline and after 6 months of melatonin administration were performed. Melatonin treatment significantly decreased androgens levels (free androgen index: P < .05; testosterone: P < .01; 17 hydroxyprogesterone: P < .01). Follicle-stimulating hormone levels significantly raised ( P < .01), and anti-Mullerian hormone serum levels significantly dropped after 6 months of melatonin treatment ( P < .01). No significant changes occurred in glucoinsulinemic and lipid parameters after treatment except a significant decrease of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Almost 95% of participants experienced an amelioration of menstrual cycles. Until now, only few data have been published about the role of melatonin in women with PCOS. This is the first study focused on the effects of exogenous oral melatonin administration on the clinical, endocrine, and metabolic characteristics of patients with PCOS. After 6 months of treatment, melatonin seems to improve menstrual irregularities and biochemical hyperandrogenism in women with PCOS through a direct, insulin-independent effect on the ovary. Based on our results, melatonin could be considered a potential future therapeutic agent for women affected by PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Tagliaferri
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Daniela Romualdi
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Elisa Scarinci
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Simona De Cicco
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Christian Di Florio
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Valentina Immediata
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Anna Tropea
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Lanzone
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
| | - Rosanna Apa
- 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy
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Hu JJ, Zhang XY, Zhang Y, Zhao XX, Li FD, Tao JZ. Molecular characterization and expression profile of the melatonin receptor MT1 in the ovary of Tianzhu white yak (Bos grunniens). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2017; 242:101-107. [PMID: 26482006 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2015.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2015] [Revised: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin plays crucial roles in a wide range of ovarian physiological functions via the melatonin receptors (MRs). Structure and function of MRs have been well studied in sheep, cattle, and humans, but little information exists on the genetic characterization and function of these receptors in the ovary of the white yak. In the present study, the melatonin receptor MT1 was cloned by RT-PCR in the ovary of white yak; the MT1 cDNA fragment obtained (843bp) comprised an open reading frame (827bp) encoding a protein containing 275 residues, characterized by seven transmembrane regions and an NRY motif, two distinct amino acid replacements were found. The white yak MT1 had a 83.9-98.6% protein sequence identity with that of nine other mammals. Using RT-PCR, the expression levels of MT1, MT2, and LHR in the ovary of pregnant and non-pregnant white yaks were compared, revealing higher levels of all genes in pregnant yaks: 3.83-fold increase for MT1 (P<0.05), 1.39-fold increase for MT2, and 15.32-fold increase for LHR (P<0.05). The distribution of MT1 in yak ovaries was observed using immunohistochemistry on paraffin embedded ovarian sections: MT1 was mainly present on primordial follicles (PF), granulosa cells (GCs), oocytes, and corpus luteum (CL) cells; MT1 expression showed an increasing tendency from PF to GCs to oocytes and to large CL cells. It is suggested that melatonin and MT1 are associated with the corpus luteum function of pregnancy maintenance and follicular development during oocyte maturation in the white yak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Jie Hu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiao Yu Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xing Xu Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China.
| | - Fa Di Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jin Zhong Tao
- Department of Animal Science, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
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Gender and the circadian pattern of body temperature in normoxia and hypoxia. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2016; 245:4-12. [PMID: 27866957 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2016.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Circadian patterns are at the core of many physiological processes, and their disruption can have short- and long-term consequences. This essay focuses on one of the best known patterns, the daily oscillation of body temperature (Tb), and the possibility of its difference between genders. From human and animal studies globally considered, the tentative conclusion is reached that differences in Tb circadian pattern between genders are very small and probably limited to the timing of the rhythm, not to its amplitude. Such similarity between genders, despite the differences in hormonal systems, presumably testifies to the importance that the Tb circadian pattern plays in the economy of the organism and its survival against environmental challenges. The second part of the article presents some previously unpublished experimental data from behaving male and female rats during hypoxia in synchronized conditions. In adult rats hypoxia (10.5% O2 for three days) caused a profound drop of the Tb daily oscillations; by day 3 they were 55% (♀) and 22% (♂) of the normoxic amplitudes, with a statistically significant gender difference. In pre-puberty rats (26-day old) hypoxia caused a major disruption of the circadian pattern qualitatively similar to the adults but not different between genders. Hence, on the basis of this preliminary set of data, it seems that sex-hormones may be a factor in how the Tb daily pattern responds to hypoxia. The implications of the effects of hypoxia on the circadian patterns, and the possibility that such effects may differ between genders, are matters that could have biological and clinical implications and deserve further investigations.
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Shokri S, Kazemi M, Firouzjaei MA, Hemadi M, Moayeri A, Ganjkhani M, Nejatbakhsh R. Melatonin protects testes against lithium-pilocarpine-induced temporal lobe epilepsy in rats: a time course study. Andrologia 2014; 47:343-53. [DOI: 10.1111/and.12269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S. Shokri
- Department of Anatomy; School of Medicine; Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS); Zanjan Iran
| | - M. Kazemi
- Department of Physiology; School of Medicine; ZUMS; Zanjan Iran
| | - M. A. Firouzjaei
- Department of Physiology; School of Medicine; Babol University of Medical Sciences (MUBabol); Babol Iran
| | - M. Hemadi
- Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center; Imam khomeini Hospital; Faculty of Medicine; Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS); Ahvaz Iran
| | - A. Moayeri
- Department of Anatomy; School of Medicine; Ilam University of Medical Sciences (MedIlam); Ilam Iran
| | - M. Ganjkhani
- Department of Physiology; School of Medicine; ZUMS; Zanjan Iran
| | - R. Nejatbakhsh
- Department of Anatomy; School of Medicine; Zanjan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS); Zanjan Iran
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Proietti S, Cucina A, Reiter RJ, Bizzarri M. Molecular mechanisms of melatonin's inhibitory actions on breast cancers. Cell Mol Life Sci 2013; 70:2139-57. [PMID: 23007844 PMCID: PMC11113894 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-012-1161-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2012] [Revised: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 09/05/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Melatonin is involved in many physiological functions and it plays an important role in many pathological processes as well. Melatonin has been shown to reduce the incidence of experimentally induced cancers and can significantly inhibit the growth of some human tumors, namely hormone-dependent cancers. The anticancer effects of melatonin have been observed in breast cancer, both in in vivo with models of chemically induced rat mammary tumors, and in vitro studies on human breast cancer cell lines. Melatonin acts at different physiological levels and its antitumoral properties are supported by a set of complex, different mechanisms of action, involving apoptosis activation, inhibition of proliferation, and cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Proietti
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
- Department of Surgery “P.Valdoni”, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Cucina
- Department of Surgery “P.Valdoni”, University “La Sapienza”, Rome, Italy
| | - Russel J. Reiter
- Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX USA
| | - Mariano Bizzarri
- Systems Biology Group Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medicine, University “La Sapienza”, 14-16, Via Antonio Scarpa, Rome, 00161 Italy
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Campos LA, Cipolla-Neto J, Michelini LC. Melatonin modulates baroreflex control via area postrema. Brain Behav 2013; 3:171-7. [PMID: 23531786 PMCID: PMC3607157 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2012] [Revised: 12/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pineal gland and its hormone melatonin have been implicated in modulation of cardiovascular system. We aimed at studying the effects of melatonin on baroreflex sensitivity and the role of area postrema, as a component modulator of baroreflex arch. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded in conscious freely moving rats. Baroreceptor reflex sensitivity was assessed by determining the HR responses to ramped infusions of phenylephrine (PE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced MAP changes. Melatonin bolus (0.11 mg/kg) immediately followed by its continuous infusion (0.43 × 10(-9) mol/L at a rate of 0.65 mL/h for 30 min) in healthy normotensive rats produced a downward shift of baroreceptor reflex control with a substantial inhibition of reflex tachycardia (-32%) and potentiation of reflex bradycardia (+20%). Ablation of area postrema (APX group) induced a sustained decrease of MAP (101 ± 3 vs. 116 ± 3 mmHg, P < 0.05 in comparison with sham rats, respectively). The melatonin-induced alterations of baroreflex function observed in the sham group were abolished in the APX group. We conclude that circulating melatonin can modulate baroreceptor reflex control of HR, thus resetting it toward lower HR values. The modulatory effects of melatonin may be mediated via melatonin receptors in the area postrema, located outside the blood-brain barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana A Campos
- São José dos Campos Technology Park, University Camilo Castelo Branco (UNICASTELO) São Paulo, Brazil ; Department of Physiology Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Magnoli D, Zichichi R, Laurà R, Guerrera MC, Campo S, de Carlos F, Suárez AÁ, Abbate F, Ciriaco E, Vega JA, Germanà A. Rhodopsin expression in the zebrafish pineal gland from larval to adult stage. Brain Res 2012; 1442:9-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Revised: 12/08/2011] [Accepted: 01/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Langley AR, Graham CH, Grundy AL, Tranmer JE, Richardson H, Aronson KJ. A cross-sectional study of breast cancer biomarkers among shift working nurses. BMJ Open 2012; 2:e000532. [PMID: 22267710 PMCID: PMC3269052 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives In 2007, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified long-term shift work as a probable carcinogen, with the strongest evidence for breast cancer. One proposed mechanism involves night-time light exposure and decreases in melatonin, a circadian rhythmic hormone. It is hypothesised that melatonin influences patterns of sex hormone production that in turn influence breast cancer risk. This study sought to investigate the relationships of shift work history, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMTs-6, the primary melatonin metabolite) and sex hormone levels among shift working nurses. Design This is a cross-sectional biomarker study. Setting 94 premenopausal nurses who work a full-time rotating shift schedule at one Ontario hospital were recruited for this study; 82 completed follow-up. Primary and secondary outcome measures Study participants provided morning void urine and fasting blood samples for the assessment of aMTs-6 and sex hormone (oestradiol, oestrone, progesterone, prolactin) levels, respectively. These data were collected at two time points (summer and winter) such that relationships between melatonin and sex hormones could be assessed with respect to two time frames of interest (acute and cross-seasonal). Results An inverse relationship between aMTs-6 and oestradiol was suggested in the winter (β=-0.18, p=0.04), but this result was not statistically significant in multivariate modelling that adjusted for age, body mass index and menstrual cycle. Likewise, while oestradiol, oestrone and progesterone levels increased with greater years of shift work history (all p<0.05), these associations were attenuated after confounder adjustment. Conclusions These results do not support the proposed relationship between melatonin and sex hormone levels as biomarkers on the pathway of shift work and breast cancer but emphasise the importance of adjusting for confounders in modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie R Langley
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
- Division of Cancer Care & Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Charles H Graham
- Division of Cancer Care & Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Anne L Grundy
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
- Division of Cancer Care & Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Joan E Tranmer
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
- School of Nursing, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Harriet Richardson
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
- Division of Cancer Care & Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
| | - Kristan J Aronson
- Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
- Division of Cancer Care & Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada
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Schernhammer ES, Vitonis AF, Rich-Edwards J, Missmer SA. Rotating nightshift work and the risk of endometriosis in premenopausal women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2011; 205:476.e1-8. [PMID: 21907958 PMCID: PMC3205317 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2011.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2011] [Revised: 04/27/2011] [Accepted: 06/03/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this prospective study was to study the association between rotating nightshift work and endometriosis risk within the Nurses' Health Study II. STUDY DESIGN We found 89,400 women without diagnosed endometriosis at baseline; the 2062 laparoscopically confirmed cases that were documented during 16 years of follow-up evaluation formed our study population. RESULTS Overall, there was no association between rotating nightshift work and risk of endometriosis. When the cases were categorized by infertility status, risk was elevated among women with concurrent infertility and ≥5 years of rotating nightshift work (rate ratio, 1.71; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-2.49; P(trend) = .005), compared with women with no rotating nightshift work. In contrast, there was no association among women without reported infertility (P(heterogeneity) = .003). CONCLUSION Women who work rotating nightshifts for ≥5 years may have a modestly elevated risk of endometriosis if concurrently infertile. However, the relation between shiftwork, endometriosis, and infertility is complex, and the potential for bias because of a healthy or infertile worker effect must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva S Schernhammer
- Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Banach M, Gurdziel E, Jędrych M, Borowicz KK. Melatonin in experimental seizures and epilepsy. Pharmacol Rep 2011; 63:1-11. [PMID: 21441606 DOI: 10.1016/s1734-1140(11)70393-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2010] [Revised: 06/09/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Banach
- Experimental Neuropathophysiology Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University, PL 20-090 Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, Poland
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20
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Molina-Martínez FJ, Jiménez-Martínez MC, Vives-Pastor B. Some questions provoked by a chronic headache (with mixed migraine and cluster headache features) in a woman with a pineal cyst. Answers from a literature review. Cephalalgia 2010; 30:1031-40. [DOI: 10.1177/0333102409359467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The main known function of the pineal gland in humans is the production of melatonin. Benign cysts of the gland have been related to headache, although the mechanism of production of this assumed clinical manifestation has not been clearly determined, due to the lack of large prospective studies. The question is complicated by the fact that pineal cysts are frequently found on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Much has been published about the possible role of benign pineal cysts in the pathophisiology of headaches and the potential of melatonin in headache therapy, as well as in other disorders. The aim of this article is to review the current state of the suject. We have tried to place accurately the relation between headache and pineal cysts based on the available evidence, as well as the actual role of melatonin in physiology and pharmacology, more specifically in headache therapy. We include a clinical case to illustrate the subject.
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21
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Melatonin and the ovary: physiological and pathophysiological implications. Fertil Steril 2009; 92:328-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2008] [Revised: 05/02/2008] [Accepted: 05/05/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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22
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Van der Heijden KB, Smits MG, Van Someren EJW, Ridderinkhof KR, Gunning WB. Effect of melatonin on sleep, behavior, and cognition in ADHD and chronic sleep-onset insomnia. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2007; 46:233-41. [PMID: 17242627 DOI: 10.1097/01.chi.0000246055.76167.0d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of melatonin treatment on sleep, behavior, cognition, and quality of life in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and chronic sleep onset insomnia. METHOD A total of 105 medication-free children, ages 6 to 12 years, with rigorously diagnosed ADHD and chronic sleep onset insomnia participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial using 3 or 6 mg melatonin (depending on body weight), or placebo for 4 weeks. Primary outcome parameters were actigraphy-derived sleep onset, total time asleep, and salivary dim light melatonin onset. RESULTS Sleep onset advanced by 26.9 +/- 47.8 minutes with melatonin and delayed by 10.5 +/- 37.4 minutes with placebo (p < .0001). There was an advance in dim light melatonin onset of 44.4 +/- 67.9 minutes in melatonin and a delay of 12.8 +/- 60.0 minutes in placebo (p < .0001). Total time asleep increased with melatonin (19.8 +/- 61.9 minutes) as compared to placebo (-13.6 +/- 50.6 minutes; p = .01). There was no significant effect on behavior, cognition, and quality of life, and significant adverse events did not occur. CONCLUSION Melatonin advanced circadian rhythms of sleep-wake and endogenous melatonin and enhanced total time asleep in children with ADHD and chronic sleep onset insomnia; however, no effect was found on problem behavior, cognitive performance, or quality of life.
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Molina-Carballo A, Fernández-Tardáguila E, Uberos-Fernández J, Seiquer I, Contreras-Chova F, Muñoz-Hoyos A. Longitudinal study of the simultaneous secretion of melatonin and leptin during normal puberty. HORMONE RESEARCH 2007; 68:11-9. [PMID: 17220633 DOI: 10.1159/000098545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2006] [Accepted: 10/27/2006] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Pubertal changes are a consequence of the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis due to an increase in the frequency and magnitude of pulses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which may depend on the intrinsic properties of the neurons of the hypothalamic arcuatus nucleus, or on the influence of neurotransmitters and/or neuromodulators. We evaluated the serum concentrations of melatonin and leptin in healthy prepubertal and adolescent subjects of both sexes, to define their participation at the initial stages and during the progression of pubertal development. METHODS 80 pediatric subjects (47 females and 33 males), aged 6-18 years, were divided into 2 groups, prepubertal (n = 25) and adolescent (n = 55), according to the absence or presence, respectively, of physical signs of pubertal development. The subjects were assessed on two occasions: at the time of their inclusion in the study, and 12-18 months later when the subject had advanced one pubertal stage according to the Tanner classification. Blood was obtained in fasting for clinical purposes and for the hormonal study. Melatonin and leptin were measured by radioimmunoanalysis. RESULTS As described previously, melatonin decreases at the onset of puberty and during pubertal development. Both the absolute melatonin value and the decrease between evaluations tended to be greater in females; the variations were correlated with neither an increase in body weight nor with the degree of pubertal development. The concentration of leptin increased in both sexes with the progression of puberty, this value being 40% greater in women, and correlated with the indicators of an increase in body volume and fat accumulation. Although its concentration remained stable between evaluations for both sexes, among the males the association between leptin and pubertal development took place at the start of the process, while for the females we observed a significant overall association between pubertal stage and leptin concentration, this association being stronger at more advanced Tanner stages. Neither at the onset of puberty nor during its course did we observe any significant relation between melatonin concentration and any of the Tanner stages, whether for males or for females. Neither was there any correlation between the absolute values or rates of modification of melatonin and leptin. CONCLUSION According to the evolutionary dynamics of their respective concentrations, both initially and during pubertal progress, melatonin and leptin do not interact in the initiation or progression of human pubertal development, and do not seem to play a key role in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Molina-Carballo
- Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio de Granada, Granada, España
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Brennan R, Jan JE, Lyons CJ. Light, dark, and melatonin: emerging evidence for the importance of melatonin in ocular physiology. Eye (Lond) 2006; 21:901-8. [PMID: 17001324 DOI: 10.1038/sj.eye.6702597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Melatonin is a hormone, which is mainly produced by the pineal gland, a vestigial eye. Rather than the rods and cones, it is a newly discovered subgroup of photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, which is responsible for mediating the light-dark cycles, thus regulating melatonin's secretion. One of the correlates of the circadian rhythm of melatonin release is the habitual sleep pattern. Patients with circadian rhythm sleep disorders, including some blind patients with no light-induced suppression of melatonin, benefit from melatonin treatment. Melatonin is synthesized in the retina, lens, ciliary body as well as other parts of the body. In this review, we discuss the physiological roles of melatonin in the eye, as well as the potential therapeutic avenues currently under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Brennan
- Department of Ophthalmology, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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25
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Cos S, González A, Martínez-Campa C, Mediavilla MD, Alonso-González C, Sánchez-Barceló EJ. Estrogen-signaling pathway: a link between breast cancer and melatonin oncostatic actions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 30:118-28. [PMID: 16647824 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdp.2006.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2006] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Melatonin exerts oncostatic effects on different kinds of tumors, especially on endocrine-responsive breast cancer. The most common conclusion is that melatonin reduces the incidence and growth of chemically induced mammary tumors, in vivo, and inhibits the proliferation and metastatic behavior of human breast cancer cells, in vitro. Both studies support the hypothesis that melatonin oncostatic actions on hormone-dependent mammary tumors are mainly based on its anti-estrogenic actions. METHODS AND RESULTS Two different mechanisms have been proposed to explain how melatonin reduces the development of breast cancer throughout its interactions with the estrogen-signaling pathways: (a) the indirect neuroendocrine mechanism which includes the melatonin down-regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary reproductive axis and the consequent reduction of circulating levels of gonadal estrogens and (b) direct melatonin actions at tumor cell level. Melatonin's direct effect on mammary tumor cells is that it interferes with the activation of the estrogen receptor, thus behaving as a selective estrogen receptor modulator. Melatonin also regulates the activity of the aromatases, the enzymes responsible for the local synthesis of estrogens, thus behaving as a selective estrogen enzyme modulator. CONCLUSIONS The same molecule has both properties to selectively neutralize the effects of estrogens on the breast and the local biosynthesis of estrogens from androgens, one of the main objectives of recent antitumor pharmacological therapeutic strategies. It is these action mechanisms that collectively make melatonin an interesting anticancer drug in the prevention and treatment of estrogen-dependent tumors, since it has the advantage of acting at different levels of the estrogen-signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Cos
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
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26
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Abstract
In addition to its antioxidative effects melatonin acts through specific nuclear and plasma membrane receptors. To date, two G-protein coupled melatonin membrane receptors, MT(1) and MT(2), have been cloned in mammals, while the newly purified MT(3) protein belongs to the family of quinone reductases. Screening studies have shown that various tissues of rodents express MT(1) and/or MT(2) melatonin receptors. In humans, melatonin receptors were also detected in several organs, including brain and retina, cardiovascular system, liver and gallbladder, intestine, kidney, immune cells, adipocytes, prostate and breast epithelial cells, ovary/granulosa cells, myometrium, and skin. This review summarizes the data published so far about MT(1) and MT(2) receptors in human tissues and human cells. Established and putative functions of melatonin after receptor activation as well as the clinical relevance of these findings will be discussed.
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MESH Headings
- Adipocytes/metabolism
- Animals
- Biliary Tract/metabolism
- Breast/metabolism
- Cardiovascular System/metabolism
- Central Nervous System/metabolism
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Tract/metabolism
- Genitalia, Female/metabolism
- Humans
- Immune System/metabolism
- Male
- Melatonin/metabolism
- Polymorphism, Genetic
- Prostate/metabolism
- Receptor, Melatonin, MT1/genetics
- Receptor, Melatonin, MT1/metabolism
- Receptor, Melatonin, MT2/genetics
- Receptor, Melatonin, MT2/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Skin/cytology
- Skin/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- C Ekmekcioglu
- Department of Physiology, Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical University Vienna, Schwarzpanierstrasse 17, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
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27
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van der Heijden KB, Smits MG, van Someren EJW, Boudewijn Gunning W. Prediction of melatonin efficacy by pretreatment dim light melatonin onset in children with idiopathic chronic sleep onset insomnia. J Sleep Res 2005; 14:187-94. [PMID: 15910516 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2005.00451.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Research has shown efficacy of melatonin treatment to advance sleep-wake rhythms in insomnia. In healthy adults, direction and magnitude of the phase shift depends on the timing of administration relative to the phase position of the circadian system. Therefore, in the present study we investigated whether in children with chronic sleep onset insomnia (SOI) efficacy of melatonin treatment in the early evening could be predicted from dim light melatonin onset (DLMO), a phase marker of the circadian system. We combined data of two previously published double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials in 110 participants, aged 6-12 years. Sleep was actigraphically estimated, and saliva collected, at baseline and in the third week of a 4-week treatment period with 5 mg melatonin or placebo at 18:00 or 19:00 hours. Primary outcome measures were pre- to post-treatment changes in dim light melatonin onset (DeltaDLMO), sleep onset (DeltaSO), sleep latency (DeltaSL), and total sleep duration (DeltaTSD). Melatonin advanced DLMO with +1:12 h (P < 0.001), SO with +0:42 h (P = 0.004), SL decreased with 25 min (P = 0.019), and TSD did not change significantly, as compared with placebo. In the melatonin-treated group, but not in the placebo-treated group, pretreatment DLMO was significantly related to DeltaDLMO [F(1, 29) = 7.28, P = 0.012] and DeltaSO [F(1, 25) = 7.72, P = 0.010]. The time interval between treatment administration and pretreatment DLMO (INT) was only significantly related to DeltaSO [F(1,26) = 5.40, P = 0.028]. The results suggest that in children with SOI, the efficacy of early evening melatonin to advance sleep onset and endogenous melatonin onset increases the later the pretreatment DLMO is.
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28
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Sánchez-Barceló EJ, Cos S, Mediavilla D, Martínez-Campa C, González A, Alonso-González C. Melatonin-estrogen interactions in breast cancer. J Pineal Res 2005; 38:217-22. [PMID: 15813897 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.2004.00207.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In this article, we review the experimental data supporting an oncostatic role of melatonin on hormone-dependent mammary tumors. Beginning with the evidence on the role of estrogens in breast cancer etiology and mammary tumor growth, we summarize the actual therapeutic strategies with estrogens as a target. Additionally, we demonstrate that melatonin fulfills all the requirements to be considered as an antiestrogenic drug which shares properties with drugs of the two main pharmacological groups of substances which interact with the estrogen-signaling pathways such as: (i) drugs that act through the estrogen receptor interfering with the effects of endogenous estrogens; and (ii) drugs that interfere with the synthesis of estrogens by inhibiting the enzymes controlling the interconversion from their androgenic precursors. Furthermore, melatonin decreases circulating levels of estradiol. These three antiestrogenic mechanisms suggest that melatonin may have an important role in the prevention and treatment of hormone-dependent mammary cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio J Sánchez-Barceló
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain.
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Obłap R, Olszańska B. Transition from embryonic to adult transcription pattern of serotonin N-acetyltransferase gene in avian pineal gland. Mol Reprod Dev 2004; 67:145-53. [PMID: 14694429 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.10391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The study reports the change of transcription pattern of serotonin N-acetyltransferase gene and melatonin receptor genes during ontogenesis of the avian pineal gland. The RT-PCR technique was used to investigate the expression of the arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) and melatonin receptor genes during development of the pineal glands isolated from Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) embryos incubated from 3 days on until hatching (17 days), and in some organs (pineal, brain hemisphere, eye, leg, heart) of the 3-day-old quail embryo. It was shown that two phases of AA-NAT expression are observed during pineal gland development. The first, embryonic-type phase, lasts from the beginning until 7-10 days of incubation, and is marked by the presence of two RT-PCR products for AA-NAT: the shorter mature form without intron (238 bp), and the longer form (323 bp) containing an unprocessed intron of 85 bp. The second, adult-type phase is characterized by the presence of a single mature transcript, containing no intron; it starts from 7 to 10 days of incubation and lasts until hatching and in the adult pineal. The duration of this transition time from the embryonic to the adult transcription pattern in the quail pineal gland from 7 to 10 days of incubation we attribute to asynchronic embryo development, because quail chicks usually hatch between the 16th and 19th day of incubation. Analysis of the AA-NAT protein sequences for chick and quail (GeneBank accession no. U 46 502 and AF 007 068, respectively) revealed their perfect homology with the part of protein read from the sequence present in the adult-type phase of the pineal gland (the RT-PCR product of 238 bp). The presence of the intron (in the 323 bp RT-PCR product, accession no. AY 197 460) in the embryonic-phase of the pineal gland changes the reading frame of the mRNA sequence and the hypothetical resulting protein loses its homology with the chick and quail AA-NAT enzyme starting with 105th amino acid of the complete chick AA-NAT protein comprising 205 amino acids (accession no. U 46 502). In the whole embryos at stages 1-8 (according to the Hamburger-Hamilton classification) both RT-PCR products with and without intron were consistently found, and individual tissues from 3-day-old embryos also produced two AA-NAT products, i.e., the expression was of the embryonic-type. At the time of transition from the embryonic to the adult AA-NAT transcription pattern, in 7-11-day-old embryos, all three melatonin receptor transcripts (mel-1a, mel-1b, and mel-1c) were observed in the pineals, without consistent modifications of the band intensity. In the adult pineal, a single mature AA-NAT transcript was present as well as all three melatonin receptor transcripts, usually with preferential expression of the mel-1a band. The transition time from the embryonic to adult AA-NAT expression pattern coincides well with the acquisition of functional activity and the appearance of melatonin synthesis in the embryonic pineal reported for chicken, as related to quail. We suggest that the change in transcription pattern of the AA-NAT gene may reflect another, still unknown mechanism of regulating AA-NAT activity during ontogenesis, at the level of mRNA processing, whose specificity (or not) for embryonic development we wish to establish in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan Obłap
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Polish Academy of Science, Jastrzebiec n/Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract
Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) refers to random, small deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry in morphological traits. These minor deviations from the ideal phenotype reflect environmental and genetic perturbations experienced during ontogeny. FA has been associated with negative health outcomes and many developmental disorders in humans. The prevalence of developmental disorders and adult health vary according to the month of birth, suggesting that seasonal stressors may leave enduring signs in the adult body, marked by high FA. The current study examined the relationship between FA and birth season. Data were collected for 205 males and females (average age = 20.39 years) on FA of 10 bilateral traits (second, third, fourth, and fifth digit length, palm height, wrist diameter, elbow width, ear height, foot breadth, and ankle circumference). Additional relationships were also investigated among FA, testosterone (T), and birth order. Results indicate that ear FA was lower for fall births compared to winter births in males. In females, palm FA was lower for fall births compared to those of the spring. FA of the digits was positively associated with T in males. Average FA, excluding the digits, decreased as the number of maternal siblings increased for both sexes. T concentrations in males were positively associated with the number of younger brothers. Our results generally confirm previous research on seasonal variation in adult longevity and neurological and psychiatric disorders, suggesting that winter and spring births are at risk for asymmetric developmental trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Benderlioglu
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio 43210, USA.
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Luboshitzky R, Qupti G, Ishay A, Shen-Orr Z, Futerman B, Linn S. Increased 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil Steril 2001; 76:506-10. [PMID: 11532473 DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(01)01930-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine melatonin production in hyperandrogenic women. DESIGN Controlled prospective study. SETTING Outpatients in an academic medical center. PATIENT(S) Twenty-two women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), 20 women with idiopathic hirsutism, and 15 age-matched individuals who had similar body mass indexes as controls. INTERVENTION(S) Fasting blood samples and 24-hour urinary samples were obtained from all participants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) All participants provided serum samples for the measurement of LH, FSH, testosterone, E(2), DHEAS, 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), and insulin levels, as well as urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s). RESULT(S) Women with PCOS had higher aMT6s, testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, and insulin values than either women with idiopathic hirsutism or control women. Testosterone inversely correlated with aMT6s in PCOS. Regression analysis revealed that only testosterone was an important determinant of aMT6s in PCOS. CONCLUSION(S) Women with PCOS have increased melatonin production.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Luboshitzky
- Endocrine Institute, Haemek Medical Center, Afula, Israel
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32
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Abstract
Most of the anatomical and molecular substrates of the system that encodes changes in photoperiod in the duration of melatonin secretion, and the receptor molecules that read this signal, have been shown to be conserved in monkeys and humans, and the functions of this system appear to be intact from the level of the retina to the level of the melatonin-duration signal of change of season. While photoperiodic seasonal breeding has been shown to occur in monkeys, it remains unclear whether photoperiod and mediation of photoperiod's effects by melatonin influence human reproduction. Epidemiological evidence suggests that inhibition of fertility by heat in men in summer contributes to seasonal variation in human reproduction at lower latitudes and that stimulation of fertility by lengthening of the photoperiod in spring contributes to the variation at higher latitudes. Parallels between the seasonality of human reproduction and seasonal affective disorder suggest that they may be governed by common biological processes. Historical and experimental evidence indicates that human responses to seasonal changes in the natural photoperiod may have been more robust prior to the Industrial Revolution and that subsequently they have been increasingly suppressed by alterations of the physical environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A Wehr
- Section on Biological Rhythms, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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