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Updated: Aug 19, 2025

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Melatonin: A Neurotrophic Factor?

Armida Miranda-Riestra1, Rosa Estrada-Reyes2, Erandis D Torres-Sanchez3

  • 1Laboratorio de Neurofarmacología, Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calzada México-Xochimilco 101, San Lorenzo Huipulco, Tlalpan 14370, Mexico City, Mexico.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
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PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Melatonin, a hormone regulating sleep-wake cycles, acts as a neurotrophic factor. It supports neuronal survival and differentiation, similar to growth factors, with potential therapeutic applications.

Keywords:
melatoninneural differentiationneurogenesisneurotrophic factorspleiotropic

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Chronobiology

Background:

  • Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine) synchronizes the internal environment with photoperiod.
  • Synthesized in the pineal gland, melatonin's production depends on circadian rhythms and light exposure.
  • Known functions include regulating sleep-wake cycles, body temperature, and immune/cardiovascular systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence supporting melatonin's role as a neurotrophic factor.
  • To describe the signaling pathways involved in melatonin's neurotrophic effects.
  • To highlight potential therapeutic implications of melatonin in neurological contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on melatonin's effects on neurons.
  • Analysis of studies comparing melatonin's actions to established neurotrophic factors.
  • Examination of signaling pathways mediating melatonin's neuroprotective and growth-promoting effects.

Main Results:

  • Melatonin promotes neuronal survival, proliferation, and differentiation (dendritogenesis, axogenesis).
  • Its effects are comparable to those of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).
  • Melatonin exhibits anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory actions in the brain.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin functions as a neurotrophic factor, influencing neuronal development and survival.
  • Signaling pathways similar to those of neurotrophic factors are involved.
  • Melatonin holds therapeutic promise for neurological disorders.