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Review
. 2017 Feb 16;12(1):e1-e6.
doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1597838. eCollection 2017 Jan.

Useful Effects of Melatonin in Peripheral Nerve Injury and Development of the Nervous System

Yigit Uyanikgil  1   2 , Turker Cavusoglu  1   2 , Kubilay Dogan Kılıc  1 , Gurkan Yigitturk  1 , Servet Celik  3 , Richard Shane Tubbs  4 , Mehmet Turgut  5
Affiliations
Review

Useful Effects of Melatonin in Peripheral Nerve Injury and Development of the Nervous System

Yigit Uyanikgil et al. J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj. .

Abstract

This review summarizes the role of melatonin (MLT) in defense against toxic-free radicals and its novel effects in the development of the nervous system, and the effect of endogenously produced and exogenously administered MLT in reducing the degree of tissue and nerve injuries. MLT was recently reported to be an effective free radical scavenger and antioxidant. Since endogenous MLT levels fall significantly in senility, these findings imply that the loss of this antioxidant could contribute to the incidence or severity of some age-related neurodegenerative diseases. Considering the high efficacy of MLT in overcoming much of the injury not only to the peripheral nerve but also to other organs, clinical trials for this purpose should be seriously considered.

Keywords: melatonin; nerve injury; peripheral nerve; pineal gland.

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Conflict of interest statement

Note This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Conflict of Interest The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Anatomy of pathway of stimulation of the pineal gland. CN, conarii or pineal nerve; ICA, internal carotid artery; ICN, internal carotid nerve; ICP, internal carotid plexus; IML, intermediolateral column; OC, optic chiasm; ON, optic nerve; PA, pineal artery; PG, pineal gland; PV, paraventricular nucleus; RT, retinohypothalamic tract; SC, suprachiasmatic nucleus; SCG, superior cervical ganglion.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Possible effects of melatonin supplementation. Abbreviations: BBB, blood-brain barrier; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; GPx, glutathione peroxidase; NOS, nitric oxide synthase; SOD, superoxide dismutase.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Various types of peripheral nerve injuries including compression, disconnection, and degeneration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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