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Related Concept Videos

Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
Pain01:20

Pain

Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
The Pineal Gland01:02

The Pineal Gland

The pineal gland, a diminutive endocrine structure named for its pinecone-shaped appearance, is situated atop the third ventricle within the diencephalon region of the forebrain. This gland, composed of secretory cells known as pinealocytes arranged in compact cords and clusters around dense particles of calcium salts, plays a pivotal role in hormonal regulation.
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Nociception01:44

Nociception

Nociception—the ability to feel pain—is essential for an organism’s survival and overall well-being. Noxious stimuli such as piercing pain from a sharp object, heat from an open flame, or contact with corrosive chemicals are first detected by sensory receptors, called nociceptors, located on nerve endings. Nociceptors express ion channels that convert noxious stimuli into electrical signals. When these signals reach the brain via sensory neurons, they are perceived as pain. Thus, pain helps the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Optimizing Photoneuromodulation Techniques to Evaluate the Role of Green Light-Emitting Diodes in Pain Management
09:03

Optimizing Photoneuromodulation Techniques to Evaluate the Role of Green Light-Emitting Diodes in Pain Management

Published on: March 28, 2025

Melatonin: a hormone that modulates pain.

Mónica Ambriz-Tututi1, Héctor I Rocha-González, Silvia L Cruz

  • 1Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados, Sede Sur, México, D.F., Mexico.

Life Sciences
|February 19, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Melatonin, a pineal gland hormone, demonstrates significant analgesic effects in various pain models. Activating melatonin receptors offers a promising strategy for novel pain relief therapies.

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Published on: January 25, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Melatonin, primarily known for endocrine functions, is increasingly recognized for its role in pain modulation.
  • Evidence suggests melatonin possesses analgesic properties, impacting both acute and chronic pain states.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review existing evidence on the analgesic effects of melatonin in animal and human studies.
  • To explore the mechanisms underlying melatonin's pain-relieving actions.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted using keywords related to melatonin, pain types, animal models, and pain-related receptors.
  • Studies investigating melatonin's effects on inflammatory, neuropathic, and functional pain were included.

Main Results:

  • Melatonin exhibits antinociceptive effects at spinal and supraspinal levels, particularly in acute and inflammatory pain models.
  • Melatonin receptor activation (MT(1) and MT(2)) reduces cyclic AMP, leading to decreased nociception and pain.
  • Melatonin also indirectly activates opioid receptors, modulates ion channels, scavenges free radicals, and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin receptors are promising therapeutic targets for developing novel analgesics.
  • Activating melatonin receptors presents a viable strategy for creating pain-relief medications with unique mechanisms of action.