Malpaux B, Tricoire H, Mailliet F, Daveau A, Migaud M, Skinner D C, Pelletier J, Chemineau P
UMR INRA-CNRS-Université de Tours, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
Reprod Suppl. 2002;59:167-79.
The mechanisms by which melatonin controls seasonal reproduction are poorly understood. The use of a large animal model, namely the sheep, has allowed progress in the understanding of these mechanisms, and is the subject of this review. Firstly, the contribution made by large animal models to demonstrating that melatonin acts in the hypothalamus and the identification of this hypothalamic target is reviewed. Secondly, the way in which large animal models have facilitated the demonstration of a specific mechanism of release of melatonin in the cerebrospinal fluid and, thus, raised the question of the route used by melatonin to reach its central targets is discussed. Finally, the human and agricultural relevance of the data presented is considered.
褪黑素控制季节性繁殖的机制目前尚不清楚。利用大型动物模型，即绵羊，有助于我们理解这些机制，这也是本综述的主题。首先，回顾大型动物模型在证明褪黑素在下丘脑发挥作用以及确定该下丘脑靶点方面所做的贡献。其次，讨论大型动物模型如何促进了脑脊液中褪黑素特定释放机制的证明，进而引发了褪黑素到达其中心靶点所采用途径的问题。最后，考虑所呈现数据与人类和农业的相关性。
