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[Melatonin and neuroendocrine regulations in fish]
Jack Falcón1, Laurence Besseau, Sandrine Sauzet
1Laboratoire Aragó, UMR 7628/GDR2821, Université Pierre et Marie Curie et CNRS, BP 44, Avenue du Fontaulé, F-66651, France Banyuls-Sur-Mer Cedex, France. falcon@obs-banyuls.fr
Journal De La Societe De Biologie
|September 1, 2007
Summary
Melatonin synchronizes organism rhythms by regulating diurnal and annual cycles. This review explores its diverse actions and targets in fish, comparing them to mammals.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology and chronobiology, focusing on the neuroendocrine regulation of biological rhythms.
Context:
- Melatonin, the primary hormone produced by the pineal gland, governs circadian and seasonal cycles.
- It synchronizes behavioral, physiological, and biochemical processes with environmental changes like photoperiod and temperature.
- The melatonin system exhibits conservation in its nocturnal production pattern and synchronizing role, alongside evolutionary diversity in biosynthesis and action.
Purpose:
- To review current understanding of melatonin's targets and mechanisms of action in fish.
- To compare melatonin's functions and evolution in fish with those observed in mammals.
Summary:
- Melatonin acts as a crucial time-keeping molecule, regulating essential biological rhythms.
- Its production by the pineal organ is key to synchronizing organismal functions with environmental cues.
- While the core synchronizing role of melatonin is conserved across vertebrates, its specific pathways and actions have diversified throughout evolution, particularly evident when comparing fish and mammals.
Impact:
- Provides a comparative overview of melatonin's role in fish and mammals.
- Highlights the conserved and diverse aspects of the melatonin system in vertebrates.
- Contributes to understanding the evolutionary adaptations of endocrine systems in response to environmental cues.
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