• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.160-160
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• 2003

Plasma melatonin in the seasonal light-period is circadian rhythmically secreted. Maximal secretion showed at 14 o'clock in summer- and winter-like period, but minimal secretion showed at 5 o'clock in summer-like period and at 8 in winter-like period. These times of minimal secretions were at the beginning of light period. Plasma melatonin in the light period is secreted 62.5% more than in the dark period in summer-like period and 45.9% more in winter-like period. Total plasma melatonin in winter-like period is secreted 56.5% more than in summer-like period. The weights of testis(-20.8%) and body(-7.1%) were reduced in the winter-like period. By the increase of plasma melatonin in mice, body- and testis-weights are decreased, on the contrary by the decrease of plasma melatonin in mice, body and testis weights are increased. In view of the results so far achieved melatonin changes on the body weight and reproductive organ in mice. It is presumed that melatonin effects on the metabolism and sex hormone.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2003

Plasma melatonin in the seasonal light-period is circadian rhythmically secreted. Maximal secretion showed at 14 o'clock in summer- and winter-like period, but minimal secretion showed at 5 o'clock in summer-like period and at 8 in winter-like period. These times of minimal secretions were at the beginning of light period. Plasma melatonin in the light period is secreted 62.5％ more than in the dark period in summer- like period and 45.9％ more in winter- like period. Total plasma melatonin in winter-like period is secreted 56.5％ more than in summer-like period. The weights of testis (-20.8％) and body (-7.1％) were reduced in the winter-like period. By the increase of plasma melatonin in mice, body - and testis -weights are decreased, on the contrary by the decrease of plasma melatonin in mice, body and testis weights are increased. In view of the results so far achieved melatonin changes on the body weight and reproductive organ in mice. It is presumed that melatonin effects on the metabolism and sex hormone.

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

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.147-150
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• 2000

Melatonin plasma in Swallows exhibited circadian rhythmical secretions in the LD (Light and dark, 12：12) period with and without feeding. But their average difference between at CT6 (Circadian Time) and CT18 was 3.53 ng/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$ in LD period with feeding. on the other side 1.60 ng/$m\ell$ during without feeding. Melatonin concentration at CT6 without feeding incresed from 0.22 ng/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$ to 0.93 ng/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$. It is demonstrated that decresing melatonin secretion may reduce digestive function in order to ready for the migration. While the birds with feeding exhibited circadian rhythmical activity, their activity without feeding was durable. The concentrations of melatonin plasma by refeeding were 1.53 ng/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$ at CT6 and 6.07 ng/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$ at CT18. Melatonin plasma concentration in the night increased by more than ca. quadruple at day. This results suggest that melatonin regulates metabolism for the return to the normal metabolism condition after migration. After 3 days refeeding melatonin was secreted circadian rhythmically same as the secretions with feeding at beginning.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.29-32
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• 2002

Studies till date suggest the existence of a fetal biological clock in suprachiasmatic nuclei entrained by the circadian signal from mother. Melatonin from maternal pineal gland reaches to the fetus by crossing every biological barrier including placenta, hence fetuses were exposed to similar melatonin variation as their mother. Experimental modulations of maternal pineal gland activity of pregnant females either by exposing the them to different photoperiodic schedules or by exogenous melatonin treatments till the date of parturition, regulated the fetal plasma level of melatonin, thereby the prenatal (fetal) growth and development. This clearly suggests the maternal transport of melatonin to their fetus through placenta since fetal retina-hypothalamic tract was incomplete. An extension of experimental schedules till 60 days of post-partum period regulated the neonatal pineal gland activity and gonadal maturation along with their plasma levels of melatonin and sex steroids suggesting clearly the phenomenon of maternal transfer of melatonin to their young ones during the post-natal period, when the neonates were solely dependent on the mother's milk for their nutrition and energetic demands. On the basis of above observations we may suggest that the maternal pineal gland activity regulate the prenatal development by passing its melatonin to fetus via placenta and post-natal growth and sexual maturation by passing maternal melatonin to neonates via milk. Hence, the photoperiod perceived by mother is translated into the maternal plasma level of melatonin which not only regulates the prenatal but also the post-natal growth and sexual maturation of neonates.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.472-474
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• 2002

Till date the phenomenon of maternal transfer of photic information was reported to regulate the fetal/neonatal growth, however its influence on neonatal immune system is still an enigma. In the present study, we observed an increase in maternal plasma melatonin level under short day length (SOL) condition with a consequent decrease in TLC and LC in their respective neonates. However, a significant decrease in maternal plasma melatonin level was noted under constant darkness (DD) with an increase in TLC and LC of their neonates. The blastogenic response (BGR) to Con A of splenocytes exhibited a significant increase in neonates of SDL females and a significant decrease in the neonates of DD females. Hence, it appears that the increase in maternal plasma melatonin under SOL condition transmitted information to decrease the immune status. Continuous exposure of females to darkness (DD) negatively regulated the maternal pineal gland activity thereby decreasing their plasma melatonin level. This information was transmitted for elevation of immune status in neonates, so that they exhibit better growth and sexual maturation. Therefore, we may suggest that the maternal photic information transmitted either prenatally through placenta or postnatally via the milk regulate the hormonal profile of Melatonin to regulate the immune status of neonates in order to influence their growth and sexual maturation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.221-224
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• 1997

Effects of melatonin on hepatic glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione-reductase (GSH-reductase) activities were studied in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats administered i.p. (10 mg/kg body weight) with melatonin during 15 days. The activity of cytosolic GSH-reductase in the liver was not changed by melatonin. However, melatonin injection increased significantly the activity of liver cytosolic GSH-Px activity compared with those in saline-treated rats. At the same time, plasma GSH-Px was also increased significantly in melatonin-treated rats. Since GSH-Px, a major antioxidative enzyme, removes $H_2O_2$ and lipid peroxides which are formed during lipid peroxidation from cellular membrane, such elevation of heptatic GSH-Px activity may contribute to the improvement of antioxidative effects under oxidative damage in the liver.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.81-89
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• 2000

To determine the optimal rotational shift system, the effect of the direction of the rotational work shifting on the nocturnal rhythm of plasma melatonin were investigated in nursing students. Two groups of nine volunteers participated as experimental subjects, and two nursing students participated as a control group. The directions of the rotational work shift were as follows: CW(clockwise)-shift were rotated in the direction of day shift(3 days), evening shift(3 days), off duty(1 day) and night shift(5 days), and CCW(conuterclockwise)-shift were done in the reverse direction. Plasma melatonin concentrations was measured by radioimmunoassay. The results were as follows : The plasma melatonin levels were kept low at night and in the following morning in the CW night shift workers, whereas the level started to increase at 05 : 00 hr in two workers of four CCW shift workers. These result suggests that the shift rotation in the CW direction is more acceptable in terms of the adaptation of hormonal rhythms. These results indicate that the CCW rotation of shift work is somewhat better than CCW rotation for the adaptation to shift work on hormonal aspects in nurses.

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

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of melatonin and selenium in freezing extenders on frozen-thawed rat sperm. Methods: Semen samples were collected from 20 adult male Wistar albino rats. Following dilution, the samples were divided into six groups: four cryopreserved groups with 1 mM and 0.5 mM melatonin and selenium supplements, and two fresh and cryopreserved control groups. The rapid freezing technique was used to freeze the samples. Flow cytometry was used to assess plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA damage, while computer-assisted sperm analysis was used to assess motility. Results: Total motility was higher in the 1 mM melatonin supplementation group than in the cryopreserved control group (mean±standard error of the mean, 69.89±3.05 vs. 59.21±1.31; p≤0.05). The group with 1 mM selenium had the highest plasma membrane integrity (42.35%±1.01%). The cryopreserved group with 0.5 mM selenium had the highest mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas the cryopreserved control group had the lowest (45.92%±4.53% and 39.45%±3.52%, respectively). Conclusion: Cryopreservation of rat semen supplemented with 1 mM melatonin increased sperm motility after freeze-thawing, while supplementation with 0.5 mM selenium increased mitochondrial activity.