Local Actions of Melatonin in Somatic Cells of the Testis

Abstract

Environmental darkness signal is transferred from the retina to the pineal gland triggering melatonin secretion. Melatonin influences the synthesis and release of the hypothalamic GnRH and the adenohypophyseal gonadotropin hormones and therefore, regulates testicular function in photoperiodic species.Besides the brain, direct actions of melatonin at the testicular level have also been Peer-reviewed version available at Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2017, 18, , 1170 doi:10.3390/ijms18061170 2 of 41 protective effects against oxidative stress in testicular mast cells. These data pinpoints melatonin as a key player in the regulation of testicular physiology (i.e. steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis) mostly in seasonal breeders. More importantly, melatonin is also involved in the modulation of testicular inflammatory and oxidant/anti-oxidant states in patients with idiopathic infertility.

Melatonin protects prepuberal testis from deleterious effects of bisphenol A or diethylhexyl phthalate by preserving H3K9 methylation

“…[39][40][41][42] Evidence shows that melatonin can pass through blood-testis barrier 43,44 and is present in the testis which also expresses MLT receptors. 45 Several publications indicate that melatonin is potentially a key local player in the regulation of testicular steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis. 12,46,47 Interestingly, recent findings show that the action of melatonin converges on epigenetic modification of DNA and histones.…”

Importância Da Atuação Do Profissional Farmacêutico Na Oncologia

“…A melatonina também pode aumentar a capacidade de resposta das células de Sertoli à FSH durante o desenvolvimento testicular, o que pode ajudar a prevenir danos nos testículos (HEINDEL et al,1984). (FRUNGIERI et al,2017;YU;DENG;SHOU-LONG et al, 2018;KUN et al,2018).…”

“…Estudos têm mostrado que a síntese de andrógenos das células de Leydig pode ser dramaticamente aumentada pelas células de Sertoli na presença de melatonina, que pode regular a função secretora das células de Leydig e Sertoli. No entanto, o mecanismo molecular da produção de andrógeno de células de Leydig regulada pela melatonina via células de Sertoli ainda não está claro(FRUNGIERI et al,2017; YU;DENG;SHOU-LONG et al, 2018; KUN et al,2018). A melatonina atua como um modulador local da atividade endócrina nas células de Leydig.…”

Local Actions of Melatonin in Somatic Cells of the Testis

“…In contrast, pro-inflammatory actions are frequently observed under basal conditions [71,72]. With regard to the above mentioned, unpublished results from our group suggest that melatonin induces the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 ( Cox2 ) and lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase ( L-pgds ), key enzymes in the synthesis of prostaglandins, in murine TM4 Sertoli cells [73]. Prostaglandins play a crucial role in the generation of the inflammatory response.…”