The Pineal Gland and its Function in Pregnancy and Lactation

Zăgrean, Ana‐Maria; Chiţimuș, Diana Maria; Badiu, Corin; Panaitescu, Anca Maria; Peltecu, Gheorghe; Zăgrean, Leon

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-814823-5.00002-7

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…In humans, melatonin influences reproduction as suggested by the widespread distribution of its receptors in reproductive organs and systems. Melatonin modulates the production and function of the human gonadotropins and steroid hormones and is considered to influence the onset of puberty, sexual maturation, follicular genesis and ovulation, pregnancy, and menopause [ 29 ]. In late pregnancy, melatonin concentration increases steadily towards the last trimester, returning to normal values after delivery [ 30 , 31 ].…”

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confidence: 99%

Melatonin’s Impact on Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Reprogramming in Homeostasis and Disease

et al. 2020

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There is a growing consensus that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of melatonin are of great importance in preserving the body functions and homeostasis, with great impact in the peripartum period and adult life. Melatonin promotes adaptation through allostasis and stands out as an endogenous, dietary, and therapeutic molecule with important health benefits. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of melatonin are intertwined and are exerted throughout pregnancy and later during development and aging. Melatonin supplementation during pregnancy can reduce ischemia-induced oxidative damage in the fetal brain, increase offspring survival in inflammatory states, and reduce blood pressure in the adult offspring. In adulthood, disturbances in melatonin production negatively impact the progression of cardiovascular risk factors and promote cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The most studied cardiovascular effects of melatonin are linked to hypertension and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, while the most promising ones are linked to regaining control of metabolic syndrome components. In addition, there might be an emerging role for melatonin as an adjuvant in treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19). The present review summarizes and comments on important data regarding the roles exerted by melatonin in homeostasis and oxidative stress and inflammation related pathologies.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melatonin’s Impact on Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Reprogramming in Homeostasis and Disease

et al. 2020

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“…Melatonin also has a protective role during pregnancy due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, compensating for the oxidative challenge associated with the metabolic demands of pregnancy and delivery. 109 Pregnancy is a great challenge for the mother's immune system, which must respond, in a balanced way, between fetal semiallogenic tolerance and the simultaneous maternal-fetal defense of external infections or toxins. This requires a tightly regulated balance between immune activation and tolerance.…”

Section: Effects Of Nonalcoholic Beer On Pregnancymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Melatonin from the mother, together with that generated by the placenta, establishes circadian rhythms in the fetus, protects syncytiotrophoblast cells from toxic substances, and improves the exchange of nutrients between the fetus and the mother. Melatonin also has a protective role during pregnancy due to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, compensating for the oxidative challenge associated with the metabolic demands of pregnancy and delivery 109 …”

Section: Effects Of Nonalcoholic Beer On Pregnancymentioning

confidence: 99%

The melatonin contained in beer can provide health benefits, due to its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties

2022

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Beer is a fermented beverage with a low alcohol content originating from cereal fermentation (barley or wheat). It forms part of the diet for many people. It contains melatonin (N‐acetyl‐5‐methoxytryptamine). Melatonin is a molecule with a wide range of antioxidant, oncostatic, immunomodulatory, and cytoprotective properties. The aim of this work was to review the data supporting the idea that a moderate consumption of beer, because of its melatonin content, is particularly useful in healthy diets and in other physiological situations (such as pregnancy, menopause, and old age). Data source: a) The MEDLINE /PubMed search was conducted from 1975 to April 2022, and b) Our own experience and published studies on melatonin, the immune system, and beer. We provide a review of research on the mechanisms of melatonin generation in beer, its concentrations, and its possible effects on health. The melatonin contained in beer, as part of a healthy diet and in some special physiological situations, could act as a protective factor and improve the quality of life of those who drink it in moderation. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

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“…Estrogen, progesterone, and their metabolites increase hepatic BA production and reduce bile canaliculi release during pregnancy, leading to elevated total BA concentrations in the peripheral blood of pregnant women. Maternal melatonin blood levels gradually increase during pregnancy (Iwasaki et al, 2005;Lanoix et al, 2012), and melatonin seems to act as a protective molecule that balances oxidative effects and apoptosis caused by diverse effectors, including high circulating BAs (Zagrean et al, 2019;Chuffa et al, 2020;Gomes et al, 2021;Zhu et al, 2021). Melatonin freely crosses the biological membranes, acting intracellularly by modulating various signaling pathways (Chuffa et al, 2019;Zagrean et al, 2019).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Maternal melatonin blood levels gradually increase during pregnancy (Iwasaki et al, 2005;Lanoix et al, 2012), and melatonin seems to act as a protective molecule that balances oxidative effects and apoptosis caused by diverse effectors, including high circulating BAs (Zagrean et al, 2019;Chuffa et al, 2020;Gomes et al, 2021;Zhu et al, 2021). Melatonin freely crosses the biological membranes, acting intracellularly by modulating various signaling pathways (Chuffa et al, 2019;Zagrean et al, 2019). Unlike hepatic BA production in humans, melatonin rhythmically released by the pineal gland shows its highest level during the night.…”

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confidence: 99%

Revisited role of the placenta in bile acid homeostasis

2023

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To date, the discussion concerning bile acids (BAs) during gestation is almost exclusively linked to pregnancy complications such as intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) when maternal serum BA levels reach very high concentrations (>100 μM). Generally, the placenta is believed to serve as a protective barrier avoiding exposure of the growing fetus to excessive amounts of maternal BAs that might cause detrimental effects (e.g., intrauterine growth restriction and/or increased vulnerability to metabolic diseases). However, little is known about the precise role of the placenta in BA biosynthesis, transport, and metabolism in healthy pregnancies when serum BAs are at physiological levels (i.e., low maternal and high fetal BA concentrations). It is well known that primary BAs are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver and are later modified to secondary BA species by colonic bacteria. Besides the liver, BA synthesis in extrahepatic sites such as the brain elicits neuroprotective actions through inhibition of apoptosis as well as oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Even though historically BAs were thought to be only “detergent molecules” required for intestinal absorption of dietary fats, they are nowadays acknowledged as full signaling molecules. They modulate a myriad of signaling pathways with functional consequences on essential processes such as gluconeogenesis -one of the principal energy sources of the fetus- and cellular proliferation. The current manuscript discusses the potential multipotent roles of physiologically circulating BAs on developmental processes during gestation and provides a novel perspective in terms of the importance of the placenta as a previously unknown source of BAs. Since the principle “not too much, not too little” applicable to other signaling molecules may be also true for BAs, the risks associated with fetal exposure to excessive levels of BAs are discussed.

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The Pineal Gland and its Function in Pregnancy and Lactation

Cited by 3 publications

References 99 publications

Melatonin’s Impact on Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Reprogramming in Homeostasis and Disease

Melatonin’s Impact on Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Reprogramming in Homeostasis and Disease

The melatonin contained in beer can provide health benefits, due to its antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties

Revisited role of the placenta in bile acid homeostasis

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