• Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
• /
• v.29 no.8
• /
• pp.7-17
• /
• 2015

Changes in melatonin concentration levels by differences in CCT of white LED light focused on Spectral Power Distribution (SPD) differences compared to the same CCT of conventional fluorescent light were analyzed. For this, melatonin concentration levels in saliva samples were taken over four different experiments at seven-day intervals. In 71.4% of participants, it was confirmed that melatonin concentration is suppressed by exposure to light, and a slight difference was observed by different CCTs. In addition, Experiment II with a high CCT was relatively high in terms of the melatonin suppression rate compared to Experiment III. A key finding was the possibility that different SPDs under a particular CCT of white LED light compared to the same CCT of conventional fluorescent light could have the same effect on the melatonin suppression.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2008

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine), a major hormone of pineal gland in vertebrates, is known to be associated with regulation of the dynamic physiological functions in general and has some functions on reproduction in the ovarian follicles in particular. And its antioxidant properties as a scavenger are also reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of melatonin on the in vitro maturation of mouse germinal vesicle (GV)-stage oocytes. Oocyte maturation, apoptosis, and mRNA expression of melatonin receptor were analyzed in the cumulus cell-enclosed oocytes (CEOs) cultured with melatonin for 18 h. The CEOs were obtained from 3 wk-old ICR female mice cultured in media with 0, 0.1 nM, 10 nM, or 1,000 nM melatonin for 18 h. And then the extrusion of the first polar body was assessed to evaluate the maturation rate. The apoptosis and mRNA expression of melatonin receptor (Mtnr1-a and Mtnr1-b) in cumulus cells of each group were measured by TUNEL assay, ELISA, and real time RT-PCR after in vitro maturation(IVM). The addition of melatonin in the IVM medium significantly improved nuclear maturation of the mouse GV oocytes and the highest maturation rate were obtained from the group treated with 1,000 nM melatonin. Apoptosis was not detected in IVM oocytes, but detected in cumulus cells. And cumulus cells treated with 1,000 nM melatonin exhibited significantly lower apoptosis. In the group treated with 1,000 nM melatonin, the expression of melatonin receptor mRNA was decreased in CEOs. In conclusion, melatonin has a potentially important role for regulating oocyte maturation and reduces the apoptosis of cumulus cells in vitro.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 2012

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the direct effects of melatonin on bladder activity and to determine the mechanisms responsible for the detrusor activity of melatonin in the isolated rat bladder. We evaluated the effects of melatonin on the contractions induced by phenylephrine (PE), acetylcholine (ACh), bethanechol (BCh), KCl, and electrical field stimulation (EFS) in 20 detrusor smooth muscle samples from Sprague-Dawley rats. To determine the mechanisms underlying the inhibitory responses to melatonin, melatonin-pretreated muscle strips were exposed to a calcium channel antagonist (verapamil), three potassium channel blockers [tetraethyl ammonium (TEA), 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), and glibenclamide], a direct voltage-dependent calcium channel opener (Bay K 8644), and a specific calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) inhibitor (KN-93). Melatonin pretreatment ($10^{-8}{\sim}10^{-6}M$) decreased the contractile responses induced by PE ($10^{-9}{\sim}10^{-4}M$) and Ach ($10^{-9}{\sim}10^{-4}M$) in a dose-dependent manner. Melatonin ($10^{-7}M$) also blocked contraction induced by high KCl ($[KCl]_{ECF}$; 35 mM, 70 mM, 105 mM, and 140 mM) and EFS. Melatonin ($10^{-7}M$) potentiated the relaxation response of the strips by verapamil, but other potassium channel blockers did not change melatonin activity. Melatonin pretreatment significantly decreased contractile responses induced by Bay K 8644 ($10^{-11}{\sim}10^{-7}M$). KN-93 enhanced melatonin-induced relaxation. The present results suggest that melatonin can inhibit bladder smooth muscle contraction through a voltage-dependent, calcium-antagonistic mechanism and through the inhibition of the calmodulin/CaMKII system.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.155-168
• /
• 2004

Objective: Melatonin, which is secreted by pineal gland play an important role in the regulation of ovarian function via seasonal rhythm and sleep in most mammals. It also has a role in the protection of cells by removing toxic oxygen free radicals brought about by metabolism. In the present study, effects of melatonin on the mouse oocyte maturation were examined using two different culture conditions provided with 5% or 21% oxygen concentration. Material and Method: Immature mouse oocytes were obtained from the ovarian follicles of $3{\sim}4$ weeks old ICR strain mice intraperitoneally injected with 5 I.U. PMSG 44 hour before. Under stereomicroscope, morphologically healthy oocytes with distinct germinal vesicle (GV) were liberated from the graafian follicles and collected using mouth-controlled micropipette. They were then cultured for 17 hour at $37^{circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ and 21% $O_2$ (95% air) or 5% $CO_2$, 5% $O_2$ and 90% $N_2$. New modified Hank's balanced salt solution (New MHBS) was used as a culture medium throughout the experiments. Effects of melatonin were examined at a concentration of $0.0001{\mu}M$, $0.01{\mu}M$ or $1.0{\mu}M$. For the prevention of spontaneous maturation of immature oocytes during culture, dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP) and/or hypoxanthine were included in the medium. Results: Under 21% oxygen condition, oocytes cultured in the presence of $0.01{\mu}M$ melatonin showed a significantly higher maturation rates, in terms of germinal vesicle breakdown (95.0% vs 89.0%) and polar body formation (88.1% vs 75.4%), compared to those cultured with $0.0001{\mu}M$ or $1.0{\mu}M$ melatonin. However, no difference was observed in oocytes cultured under 5% oxygen whether they were treated with melatonin or not. In the presence of $0.01{\mu}M$ melatonin, oocytes either cultured under 21% or 5% oxygen exhibited no difference in the polar body formation (85.6% vs 86.7%). However, in the absence of melatonin, oocytes cultured under 21% oxygen exhibited lower polar body formation (74.7%). When oocytes were cultured in the presence of dbcAMP alone or with varying concentrations of melatonin, those treated with both compounds always showed better maturation, i.e., germinal vesicle breakdown and polar body formation, compared to those cultured with dbcAMP alone. At the same concentration of melatonin, however, oocytes exposed to 21% oxygen showed poor maturation than those to 5% oxygen. Similar results were obtained from the experiments using hypoxanthine instead of dbcAMP. Conclusion: Based upon these results, it is suggested that melatonin could enhance the meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes under 21% oxygen concentration, and release oocytes from the meiotic arrest by dbcAMP or hypoxanthine regardless of the concentration of oxygen, probably via the removal of oxygen free radicals.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.31-38
• /
• 2006

The effect of melatonin on morphological changes after ischemia-reperfusion injury was investigated in rat skeletal muscle. Dimethyl-sulfoxide(DMSO) was also tested for comparison. Muscle injury was evaluated in 4 groups as a single laparotomy group(control), ischemia-reperfusion group, DMSO group, melatonin group. Left hind limb ischemia was induced for 4 hours by vascular clamping of the common femoral artery and followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. The midportion of gastrocnemius muscle was taken for histological evaluation. In light microscopic study, ischemia-reperfusion group showed severe neutrophil infiltration, interstitial edema, and partial loss or degeneration of muscle fibers. The muscle tissue of melatonin group showed relatively normal architecture with mild inflammatory cell infiltration. In electron microscopic study, dilated cisternae of sarcoplasmic reticulum, dilated mitochondria with electron loose matrix and dilated cristae, disordered or loss of myofilament, indistinct A-band and I-band, intracytoplasmic vacuoles, and markedly decreased glycogen granules were observed in ischemia-reperfusion group. But relatively well maintained A-band, I-band, Z-line, M-line, and mildly dilated mitochondria with well preserved cristae were observed in melatonin group. The DMSO group showed intermediately attenuated ultrastructural changes. The results show that melatonin improves morphologically ischemia-reperfusion injury more effectively than DMSO. In conclusion, melatonin seems to be a promising agent that can salvage the skeletal muscle from severe ischemia-reperfusion injury.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.309-317
• /
• 2017

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indole synthesized from tryptophan by the pineal gland in animal. The major function of melatonin is to modulate circadian and circannual rhythms in photoperiodic mammals. Importantly, however, melatonin is also a free radical scavenger, anti-oxidant, and anti-apoptotic agent. Recently, the beneficial effects of melatonin on oocyte maturation and embryonic development in vitro have been reported in many species such as pig, cattle, sheep, mouse, and human. In this review, we will discuss recent studies about the role of melatonin in the production of porcine and bovine oocytes and embryos in vitro in order to provide useful information of melatonin in oocyte maturation and embryo culture in vitro.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.239-245
• /
• 2002

Plasma melatonin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and body temperature were measured simultaneously and continuously before and after the sleep-wake cycle was shifted in 4 healthy males and changes in the circadian rhythm itself and in the phase relationship among these circadian rhythms were determined. Normal sleep-wake cycle (sleep hours: 2300-0700) was delayed by 10 h (sleep hours: 0900-1700) during the experiment. Even after this shift the typical melatonin rhythm was maintained: low during daytime and high during night. The melatonin rhythm was gradually delayed day by day. The TSH rhythm was also maintained fundamentally during 3 consecutive days of altered sleep-wake cycle. The phase was also delayed gradually but remarkably. The daily rhythm of body temperature was changed by the alteration of sleep-wake cycle. The body temperature began to decrease at the similar clock time as in the control but the decline during night awake period was less steep and the lowered body temperature persisted during sleep. The hormonal profiles during the days of shifted sleep/wake cycle suggest that plasma melatonin and TSH rhythms are basically regulated by an endogenous biological clock. The parallel phase shift of melatonin and TSH upon the change in sleep-wake cycle suggests that a common unitary pacemaker probably regulates these two rhythms. The reversal phase relationship between body temperature and melatonin suggests that melatonin may have a hypothermic effect on body temperature. The altered body temperature rhythm suggests that the awake status during night may inhibit the circadian decrease in body temperature and that sleep sustains the lowered body temperature. It is probable but uncertain that there ave causal relationships among sleep, melatonin, TSH, and body temperature.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 2015

Purpose: Stress, depending on its intensity and duration, results in either adaptive or maladaptive physiological and psychological changes in humans. Also, it was found that stressful experiences increase the signs of behavioral despair in rodents. On the other hand, exercise and melatonin treatment is believed to have many beneficial effects on health. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the anti-depressant effects of physical activity and melatonin against chronic stress-induced depression in rats. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats(200-250g, 7 weeks of age) were subjected to depression induced by chronic stress. Chronic depression was induced with forced-swim stress (FSS) and repeated change of light-dark cycle for 4 weeks. In the last 2 weeks, some rats were confined in a cage enriched with a running wheel, seesaw and chewed a ball from 19:00 to 07:00 every day. Melatonin was injected intra-peritoneally (I.P), and the rats received intraperitoneal injections of melatonin (15 mg/kg). The Forced Swim Test (FST) was performed to evaluate the immobility behaviors of rats for a 5 min test. Results: It was found that, the immobility time in FST was significantly (p<.05) lower in physical exercise ($M=58.83{\pm}22.73$) and melatonin ($M=67.33{\pm}37.73$) than in depressive rats ($M=145.93{\pm}63.16$) without physical activity. Also, TPH positive cell in dorsal raphe was significantly (p<.05) higher in exercise ($M=457.38{\pm}103.21$) and melatonin ($M=425.38{\pm}111.56$) than in depressive rats ($M=258.25{\pm}89.13$). Conclusion: This study suggests that physical activity and melatonin produces antidepressant-like effect on stress-induced depression in rats. So, physical exercise and melatonin may be a good intervention in depression patients.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.65 no.5
• /
• pp.1094-1104
• /
• 2023

Aggression in horses may cause serious accidents during riding and non-riding activities. Hence, predicting the temperament of horses is essential for selecting suitable horses and ensuring safety during the activity. In certain animals, such as hamsters, plasma melatonin concentrations have been correlated with aggressive behavior. However, whether this relationship applies to horses remains unclear. To address this research gap, this study aimed to evaluate differences in the plasma melatonin concentrations among horses of different breeds, ages, and sexes and examine the correlation between plasma melatonin concentrations and the temperament of the horses, including docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability. Blood samples from 32 horses were collected from the Horse Industry Complex Center of Jeonju Kijeon College. The docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability of the horses were assessed by three professional trainers who were well-acquainted with the horses. Plasma melatonin concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The consequent values were compared between the horses of different breeds, ages, and sexes using a three-way analysis of variance and least significant difference post hoc test. Linear regression analysis was employed to identify the relationship between plasma melatonin concentrations and docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability. The results showed that the plasma melatonin concentrations significantly differed with breeds in Thoroughbred and cold-blooded horses. However, there were no differences in the plasma melatonin concentrations between the horse ages and sexes. Furthermore, plasma melatonin concentrations did not exhibit a significant correlation with the ranking of docility, affinity, dominance, and trainability.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-4
• /
• 2008

Melatonin is one of the functional hormones in the milk and found in all mammalian species. The primary motivation for the use of melatonin as a supplement is as a natural aid to better sleep. Melatonin contents in milk vary according to the naturally occurring factors such as seasons and milking times. As a number of studies indicate melatonin supplementation helps to reduce the age-related decline in hormone production and overall enhancement of health, the more detailed studies are required to know the nature of milk derived hormones and to clarify them as a functional value adaptation. The objectives of this study were to examine the change of melatonin content in bovine milk during different milking times at the two dairy farms and during dairy process including homogenization and pasteurization. Commercial dairy products including night time milking products(night milk) marketed in Japan were also investigated. Melatonin content was determined by radioimmunoassay using 125I. Individual milk was collected from lactating Holstein cows at Kyong-Ki province in Korea. At farm A, the melatonin contents milking at 4 a.m. was higher than those of 7 p.m. and 12 p.m.($6.90{\pm}3.55,\;2.01{\pm}1.47$ and $0.16{\pm}0.04pg/mL$, respectively). At farm B, the mean melatonin contents milked from 24:00 AM to 05:00 AM have shown the highest contents ($4.65{\pm}$0.72pg/mL), and milking samples of the rest time had very little or non-detection of melatonin contents. Melatonin contents of commercial night milk samples were about 5 times higher than those of other common milk products. These results suggested that melatonin might be heat-resistant and commercial dairy process might not affect its contents in the final products.