title: Melatonin and female reproduction.
abstract: Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is secreted during the dark hours at night by the pineal gland. After entering the circulation, melatonin acts as an endocrine factor and a chemical messenger of light and darkness. It regulates a variety of important central and peripheral actions related to circadian rhythms and reproduction. It also affects the brain, immune, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, renal, bone and endocrine functions and acts as an oncostatic and anti-aging molecule. Many of melatonin's actions are mediated through interactions with specific membrane-bound receptors expressed not only in the central nervous system, but also in peripheral tissues. Melatonin also acts through non-receptor-mediated mechanisms, for example serving as a scavenger for reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species. At both physiological and pharmacological concentrations, melatonin attenuates and counteracts oxidative stress and regulates cellular metabolism. Growing scientific evidence of reproductive physiology supports the role of melatonin in human reproduction. This review was conducted to investigate the effects of melatonin on female reproduction and to summarize our findings in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Akihisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takasaki
authors.forename: Toshiaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taketani
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanabe
authors.forename: Lifa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aasada
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamagata
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sugino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000502:physiology*; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism; D009866:Oogenesis; D010060:Ovulation / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D036801:Parturition / Q000378:metabolism; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin
keywords: lipids metabolism; melatonin; ovary; pregnancy; reproduction