Physiopatology of the pineal gland and melatonin

• Grant number: 02/02957-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2003
• End date: May 31, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - General Pharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Regina Pekelmann Markus
• Grantee: Regina Pekelmann Markus
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais: Telma Maria Tenório Zorn
• Associated research grant(s): 05/54069-5 - Cláudia Lucia Martins da Silva | Universidade Federal do Rio Janeiro/UFRJ - Brazil, AV.BR

Abstract

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a product of tryptophan metabolism and is produced in a limited number of organs in mammals including the pineal gland, retinas and in lhe gastrointestinal tract. This hormonal píneal signal is a highly reliable measure of night time. Melatonin relays the circadian rhythm and lhe information on the photoperiod to the peripheral organs for daily and seasonal physiological regulations, having a proven role in lhe sleep/wake cycle, and in the circadian sychronization of lhe immune, cardiovascular and reproductive systems. This thematic project aims to increase our basic knowledge on melatonin regulation of neural and inflammatory response focusing in lhe relationship between lhe two systems, as well as evaluating lhe sites of action of melatonin by an ex-vivo technique. This study is essential for understanding lhe mammal and human time structure, which is a basic tact of our existence. Chronopharmacology will certainly play an important role in lhe clinical medicine. Successful application of chronobiology to clinical medicine, however, depends critically on a thorough knowledge of its basic principies and the transducers that synchronize lhe most important responses. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

COUTO-MORAES‚ R.; PALERMO-NETO‚ J.; MARKUS‚ R.P.. The Immune-Pineal Axis. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, v. 1153, n. 1, p. 193-202, 2009. (02/02957-6)

COUTO-MORAES, RENATO; PALERMO-NETO, JOAO; MARKUS, REGINA PEKELMANN; SAVINO, W; SILVA, PO; BESEDOVSKY, H. The Immune-Pineal Axis Stress as a Modulator of Pineal Gland Function. NEUROIMMUNOMODULATION: FROM FUNDAMENTAL BIOLOGY TO THERAPY, v. 1153, p. 10-pg., 2009-01-01. (02/02957-6)

MARKUS, REGINA P.; SILVA, CLAUDIA L. M.; FRANCO, DAIANE GIL; BARBOSA, JR., EDUARDO MORTANI; FERREIRA, ZULMA S.. Is modulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors by melatonin relevant for therapy with cholinergic drugs?. PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, v. 126, n. 3, p. 251-262, JUN 2010. (02/02957-6, 07/07871-6)