The effects of melatonin on open field behavior

Golus, Peter; King, Maurice G.

doi:10.1016/0091-3057(81)90048-4

Cited by 35 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…[111][112][113] In humans, MLT has been used to reduce or eliminate benzodiazepine administration in elderly patients. 114 Still the receptor mediating the anxiety-like effect of MLT was unknown.…”

Section: Melatonin and Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

Unveiling the role of melatonin MT2 receptors in sleep, anxiety and other neuropsychiatric diseases: a novel target in psychopharmacology

Comai

Gobbi

2014

J Psychiatry Neurosci

155

126

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionMelatonin (MLT) is a neurohormone synthesized from serotonin (5-HT) and secreted foremost by the mammalian pineal gland following a distinct circadian rhythm with the acrophase during the dark phase and the nadir during the light phase in both diurnal and nocturnal species.1 A typical human adult's average daytime and nighttime levels of blood MLT are approximately 10 pg/mL and 60 pg/mL, respectively.2 Its production is controlled through the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) by the photoperiod, peaking at night and dropping during the day. Melatonin is involved in numerous physiologic processes, including circadian rhythms, mood regulation, anxiety, sleep, appetite, immune responses and cardiac functions. 3,4 Most of the effects of MLT in the brain result from the activation of 2 high-affinity G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), MT 1 and MT 2 .5 Of note, GPCRs have a proven history of being excellent therapeutic targets. Recent market analyses indicate that 40%-50% of modern drugs and almost 25% of the top 200 best-selling drugs target GPCRs. 6 In addition to these high-affinity MLT receptors, another low-affinity MLT binding site, MT 3 , has recently been characterized as an MLT-sensitive form of the human enzyme quinone reductase 2. 7 The functional characterization of MT 1 and MT 2 receptors in target tissues is hampered by the paucity of selective MT 1 and MT 2 receptor ligands. Structural Background: Melatonin (MLT) is a pleiotropic neurohormone controlling many physiological processes and whose dysfunction may contribute to several different diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, circadian and mood disorders, insomnia, type 2 diabetes and pain. Melatonin is synthesized by the pineal gland during the night and acts through 2 G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), MT 1 (MEL1a) and MT 2 (MEL1b). Although a bulk of research has examined the physiopathological effects of MLT, few studies have investigated the selective role played by MT 1 and MT 2 receptors. Here we have reviewed current knowledge about the implications of MT 2 receptors in brain functions. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar and articles reference lists for studies on MT 2 receptor ligands in sleep, anxiety, neuropsychiatric diseases and psychopharmacology, including genetic studies on the MTNR1B gene, which encodes the melatonin MT 2 receptor. Results: These studies demonstrate that MT 2 receptors are involved in the pathophysiology and pharmacology of sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, Alzheimer disease and pain and that selective MT 2 receptor agonists show hypnotic and anxiolytic properties. Limitations: Studies examining the role of MT 2 receptors in psychopharmacology are still limited. Conclusion: The development of novel selective MT 2 receptor ligands, together with further preclinical in vivo studies, may clarify the role of this receptor in brain function and psychopharmacology. The superfamily of GPCRs has proven to be among the most successful drug targets and, consequently, M...

show abstract

Section: Melatonin and Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

Unveiling the role of melatonin MT2 receptors in sleep, anxiety and other neuropsychiatric diseases: a novel target in psychopharmacology

Comai

Gobbi

2014

J Psychiatry Neurosci

155

126

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Some biochemical theories of SAD attribute it to a relative lack of serotonin and/or polymorphisms involving its conversion to melatonin, supported by the success of SSRI's in the treatment of SAD (44). Melatonin is central to regulation of sleep and circadian rhythms and suggested to affect mood by reducing anxiety level, while possibly worsening severe depression and increasing fatigue (45,46). Patients with SAD may exhibit a longer nocturnal period of active melatonin secretion during winter than in summer, compared with healthy volunteers, who display no seasonal change (47) Ambient lighting can impact N-acetyltransferase activity and levels of serotonin and melatonin (48,49).…”

Section: The Mechanismmentioning

confidence: 98%

Tanning as a Behavioral Addiction

Kourosh

Harrington

Adinoff

2010

The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse

127

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The first evidence of its influence on anxiety was obtained in rats by Golus and King [172] in the open field (OF) test. After this, anxiolytic-like activity of melatonin has been observed in several behavioural animal tests, such as light/dark box (LD), elevated plus-maze (EPM), and Vogel tests [173–176, 178–182].…”

Section: Melatoninergic System As a Putative Target For Treating Mmentioning

confidence: 99%

Melatoninergic System in Parkinson’s Disease: From Neuroprotection to the Management of Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms

Mack

Schamne

Sampaio

et al. 2016

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Melatonin is synthesized by several tissues besides the pineal gland, and beyond its regulatory effects in light-dark cycle, melatonin is a hormone with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Melatonin acts as a free-radical scavenger, reducing reactive species and improving mitochondrial homeostasis. Melatonin also regulates the expression of neurotrophins that are involved in the survival of dopaminergic neurons and reduces α-synuclein aggregation, thus protecting the dopaminergic system against damage. The unbalance of pineal melatonin synthesis can predispose the organism to inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). The aim of this review is to summarize the knowledge about the potential role of the melatoninergic system in the pathogenesis and treatment of PD. The literature reviewed here indicates that PD is associated with impaired brain expression of melatonin and its receptors MT1 and MT2. Exogenous melatonin treatment presented an outstanding neuroprotective effect in animal models of PD induced by different toxins, such as 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), rotenone, paraquat, and maneb. Despite the neuroprotective effects and the improvement of motor impairments, melatonin also presents the potential to improve nonmotor symptoms commonly experienced by PD patients such as sleep and anxiety disorders, depression, and memory dysfunction.

show abstract

The effects of melatonin on open field behavior

Cited by 35 publications

References 17 publications

Unveiling the role of melatonin MT2 receptors in sleep, anxiety and other neuropsychiatric diseases: a novel target in psychopharmacology

Unveiling the role of melatonin MT2 receptors in sleep, anxiety and other neuropsychiatric diseases: a novel target in psychopharmacology

Tanning as a Behavioral Addiction

Melatoninergic System in Parkinson’s Disease: From Neuroprotection to the Management of Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About