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Melatonin’s Neuroprotective Actions on Hippocampal Neurons

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Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs in Clinical Practice

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Abstract

Melatonin is the pineal hormone, is an indoleamine, and has a persuasive role in the biological regulation of circadian rhythm, sleep–mood disorders, immunoregulation, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and aging. It passively diffuses into the bloodstream, exerting maximum effectiveness and protective action. This protective action is due to direct free radical scavenging and indirect antioxidative effects, especially in cases of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease whose pathogenesis is associated with the cytotoxic effects of free radicals. Melatonin also promotes neurogenesis in adults, thus affecting hippocampal functions and enhancing cognitive and behavioral activities. Therapeutic trials with melatonin have been effective also in slowing down the progression of some neurodegenerative disorders. Studies suggest that melatonin have clinical potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

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Abbreviations

4-HNE:

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal

Akt:

Protein kinase B (PKB)

CA1:

Cornu ammonis 1

Ca2+ :

Calcium2+ ion

CA3:

Cornu ammonis 3

CAT:

Catalase

GABA:

Gamma-aminobutyric acid

GPx:

Glutathione peroxidase

GSH:

Reduced glutathione

KA:

Kainic acid kainate

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

MT1:

Melatonin receptor 1

MT2:

Melatonin receptor 2

NADPH-d:

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase

NMDA:

N-methyl-d-aspartate

nNOS:

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase

NO:

Nitric oxide

PI3K:

Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University College of Science, MLSU, Durga Nursery Road, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, India

    Pooja Suhalka PhD, Chhavi Sharma MSc, Neha Jaiswal MSc, Piyu Sukhwal PhD, Reena Chittora MSc, Ayushi Jain PhD & Maheep Bhatnagar PhD

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  1. Pooja Suhalka PhD
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  2. Chhavi Sharma MSc
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  4. Piyu Sukhwal PhD
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Correspondence to Pooja Suhalka PhD .

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  1. Sri Sathya Sai Medical Educational and Research Foundation, An International Medical Sciences Research Center, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

    V. Srinivasan

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Hebrew-University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

    Amnon Brzezinski

  3. Department of Physiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

    Sukru Oter

  4. Department of Psychiatry Behavioral Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Macon, Georgia, USA

    Samuel D. Shillcutt

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Suhalka, P. et al. (2014). Melatonin’s Neuroprotective Actions on Hippocampal Neurons. In: Srinivasan, V., Brzezinski, A., Oter, S., Shillcutt, S. (eds) Melatonin and Melatonergic Drugs in Clinical Practice. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0825-9_25

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