Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 10, 2025

Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption
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Human Primary Trophoblast Cell Culture Model to Study the Protective Effects of Melatonin Against Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced Disruption

Published on: July 30, 2016

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Melatonin in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Critical Literature Review

Cyrille Feybesse1, Sylvie Chokron2, Sylvie Tordjman1,2,3

  • 1Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent (PHUPEA), Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Regnier, 154 rue de Châtillon, 35000 Rennes, France.

Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 25, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Melatonin

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Endocrinology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Melatonin, a hormone regulating sleep-wake cycles, has antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) encompass a range of conditions affecting brain development.
  • Altered melatonin production and circadian rhythms are implicated in various NDDs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the relationship between melatonin and NDDs.
  • To explore melatonin's role in typical and atypical neurodevelopment.
  • To discuss the impact of melatonin dysfunction on NDD pathophysiology and symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on melatonin, circadian rhythms, and NDDs.
  • Analysis of physiological effects of melatonin, including antioxidant properties.
  • Examination of specific NDDs (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) in relation to melatonin.

Main Results:

  • Melatonin's antioxidant and physiological roles are crucial for neurodevelopment.
  • Impaired melatonin production and circadian disruption are linked to numerous NDDs.
  • Overlapping symptoms in NDDs may be associated with abnormal melatonin signaling.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin plays a significant role in neurodevelopment and its disruption contributes to NDDs.
  • Circadian rhythm disturbances, particularly sleep-wake cycles, are key factors in NDDs.
  • Targeting melatonin pathways may offer therapeutic potential for NDDs.

Keywords:
autismbrain developmentcircadian rhythmsmelatoninneurodevelopmental disordersschizophreniasleep disturbancesleep–wake rhythms

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