Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
09:37
A Phenotyping Regimen for Genetically Modified Mice Used to Study Genes Implicated in Human Diseases of Aging
Published on: July 14, 2016
Effects of melatonin and age on gene expression in mouse CNS using microarray analysis
Edward H Sharman1, Stephen C Bondy, Kaizhi G Sharman
1Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Community and Environmental Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-1825, USA. esharman@uci.edu
Neurochemistry International
|November 23, 2006
Summary
Dietary melatonin supplementation in aging mice normalized age-related gene expression changes in the brain. Melatonin treatment reduced lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) mRNA and modulated inflammatory genes, suggesting a role in mitigating aging effects.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Aging is associated with altered gene expression in inflammation and immune function.
- Declining melatonin levels with age may contribute to physiological aging effects.
- Melatonin is known to modulate gene expression related to immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in mRNA expression in the murine central nervous system (CNS).
- To determine the effect of prolonged dietary melatonin administration on these age-related changes.
- To explore melatonin's potential role in modulating aging-associated inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Oligonucleotide microarrays (Affymetrix Mouse 430-2.0) were used to analyze gene expression in mouse brains.
- CB6F1 male mice were treated with melatonin or a control diet and compared at different ages (young vs. old).
- Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validated selected gene expression changes.
Main Results:
- Melatonin treatment modulated a substantial number of genes in the aging mouse brain.
- Age-related changes in gene expression were generally reversed towards younger levels by melatonin.
- Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) mRNA, which increases with age, was decreased by melatonin treatment in old mice.
- Many genes downregulated by melatonin are involved in inflammation and immune system pathways.
Conclusions:
- Dietary melatonin can influence age-related gene expression in the CNS.
- Melatonin treatment may mitigate aging-associated inflammation by modulating specific gene pathways.
- These findings suggest melatonin's potential therapeutic role in addressing physiological changes during aging.
