The pineal hormone melatonin has been shown to directly scavenge free radicals and to stimulate, in the mammalian brain, at least one enzyme, glutathione peroxidase, which reduces free radical generation. In the present studies, we examined the effect of melatonin on glutathione peroxidase activity in several tissues of an avian species. Melatonin (500 micrograms/kg), when injected into chicks, increased glutathione peroxidase activity within 90 min in every tissue examined. Tissue melatonin levels, measured by radioimmunoassay, also increased following its peripheral administration. Depending on the tissue, the measured increases in melatonin varied from 75% to 1,300% over the control values. The melatonin-induced increases in glutathione peroxidase activity varied with the tissue and were between 22% and 134%. These percentage increases in glutathione peroxidase activity were directly correlated with tissue melatonin content. These results suggest that melatonin induces the activity of the detoxifying enzyme, glutathione peroxidase, in several tissues in the chick. The findings also suggest that melatonin would reduce the generation of highly toxic hydroxyl radicals by metabolizing its precursor, hydrogen peroxide. Because of this ability to stimulate glutathione peroxidase activity, melatonin should be considered as a component of the antioxidative defense system in this avian species.
Objective: To assess the age at which the circadian rhythm of melatonin begins. Methods: 55 children, divided into groups from the neonatal period to 24 months of life, were studied. Urine samples were taken from 28 newborn babies to measure 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s). Salivary samples were collected from infants (27 cases), to measure melatonin (aMT). aMT was measured by RIA and aMT6s by ELISA using commercial kits. Changes in the levels of aMT6s and aMT were evaluated using the Friedman test and Wilcoxon matched pair test. Results: The group aged 27–41 days showed statistically significant differences in daily aMT6s and aMT concentrations. The highest values were always found between 24.00 and 8.00 h. This day/night difference persisted from 2–3 to 13–24 months of age. Conclusion: The data indicate that the circadian melatonin rhythm appears at the end of the neonatal period and persists thereafter.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.