<p>Role of Melatonin in the Regulation of Pain</p>
Shanshan Xie, Wenguo Fan, Hongwen He, Fang Huang
Abstract
Melatonin is a pleiotropic hormone synthesized and secreted mainly by the pineal gland in vertebrates. Melatonin is an endogenous regulator of circadian and seasonal rhythms. Melatonin is involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes demonstrating antioxidant, antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Accumulating evidence has revealed that melatonin plays an important role in pain modulation through multiple mechanisms. In this review, we examine recent evidence for melatonin on pain regulation in various animal models and patients with pain syndromes, and the potential cellular mechanisms.
Topics & Concepts
MelatoninMedicineCircadian rhythmEndogenyPineal glandRegulatorHormonePathophysiologyEndocrinologyInternal medicineBiologyGeneGeneticsCircadian rhythm and melatoninBiochemical effects in animalsSleep and Wakefulness Research