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Melatonin and Melatonin Receptors in Neuroprotection

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Melatonin, Neuroprotective Agents and Antidepressant Therapy

Abstract

Melatonin (Mel) is a neurohormone which is synthesized from tryptophan with the activation of beta-adrenergic receptors of the pineal gland [2, 11, 36]. It is chemically known as N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine [1]. The main task of this hormone is adjusting the rhythm of the body and protecting the biological clock of the body. Also, it has a role in many biological and physiological processes in the body [11, 34, 58]. At this point, apart from the protection of the tissues by preventing the lipid peroxidation [8, 33], Mel is directly a free radical scavenger, and it is stronger than all known antioxidants by this effect [1, 55] as having a neuroprotective effect mechanism [2, 69]. Also, Mel shows tissue protective effect by increasing antioxidant enzyme levels or inhibiting pro-oxidative enzymes through receptors [49]. With this perspective, this chapter of the book reviews the therapeutic effects of Mel and Mel receptors in neuroprotection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey

    Omur Gulsum Deniz, Aysın Pınar Turkmen, Mehmet Emin Onger, Berrin Zuhal Altunkaynak & Suleyman Kaplan

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  1. Omur Gulsum Deniz
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  2. Aysın Pınar Turkmen
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Correspondence to Suleyman Kaplan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vice-Rectorate for Research and Sci, Camilo José Cela University Vice-Rectorate for Research and Sci, Madrid, Spain

    Francisco López-Muñoz

  2. International Medical Sciences Research Study Center, Sri Sathya Sai Medical Educational & Research Foundation, Coimbatore, India

    Venkataramanujam Srinivasan

  3. Department of Neurosciences and Ima, University of Chieti Department of Neurosciences and Ima, Italy, Italy

    Domenico de Berardis

  4. Department of Biomedical Sciences (Pharmacology Area), University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain

    Cecilio Álamo

  5. Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

    Takahiro A. Kato

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Deniz, O.G., Turkmen, A.P., Onger, M.E., Altunkaynak, B.Z., Kaplan, S. (2016). Melatonin and Melatonin Receptors in Neuroprotection. In: López-Muñoz, F., Srinivasan, V., de Berardis, D., Álamo, C., Kato, T. (eds) Melatonin, Neuroprotective Agents and Antidepressant Therapy. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2803-5_5

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