Maternal pineal melatonin in gestation and lactation physiology, and in fetal development and programming

Author(s)

Lourenco Gomes, Patricia Rodrigues ^[1] ; Motta-Teixeira, Livia Clemente ^[1] ; Gallo, Camila Congentino ^[2] ; Buonfiglio, Daniella do Carmo ^[1] ; de Camargo, Ludmilla Scodeler ^[2] ; Quintela, Telma ^[3] ; Reiter, Russel J. ^[4] ; do Amaral, Fernanda Gaspar ^[2] ; Cipolla-Neto, Jose ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Physiol & Biophys, Neurobiol Lab, 1524 Prof Lineu Prestes Ave, Bldg 1, Lab 118, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Physiol, Pineal Neurobiol Lab, 862 Botucatu St, 5th Floor, BR-04023901 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Beira Interior, CICS UBI Hlth Sci Res Ctr, Infante D Henrique Ave, P-6200506 Covilha - Portugal

^[4] UT Hlth San Antonio, Dept Cell Syst & Anat, Long Sch Med, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX 78229 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: General and Comparative Endocrinology; v. 300, JAN 1 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Pregnancy and lactation are reproductive processes that rely on physiological adaptations that should be timely and adequately triggered to guarantee both maternal and fetal health. Pineal melatonin is a hormone that presents daily and seasonal variations that synchronizes the organism's physiology to the different demands across time through its specific mechanisms and ways of action. The reproductive system is a notable target for melatonin as it actively participates on reproductive physiology and regulates the hypothalamus-pituitarygonads axis, influencing gonadotropins and sexual hormones synthesis and release. For its antioxidant properties, melatonin is also vital for the oocytes and spermatozoa quality and viability, and for blastocyst development. Maternal pineal melatonin blood levels increase during pregnancy and triggers the maternal physiological alterations in energy metabolism both during pregnancy and lactation to cope with the energy demands of both periods and to promote adequate mammary gland development. Moreover, maternal melatonin freely crosses the placenta and is the only source of this hormone to the fetus. It importantly times the conceptus physiology and influences its development and programing of several functions that depend on neural and brain development, ultimately priming adult behavior and energy and glucose metabolism. The present review aims to explain the above listed melatonin functions, including the potential alterations observed in the progeny gestated under maternal chronodisruption and/or hypomelatoninemia. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50457-0 - Melatonin and the control of energy metabolism: basic, clinical and epidemiological research
• Grantee: José Cipolla Neto
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants