Paredes Sergio D, Marchena Ana María, Bejarano Ignacio, Espino Javier, Barriga Carmen, Rial Rubén V, Reiter Russel J, Rodríguez Ana B
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, Avda. de Elvas, s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009 Mar;64(3):340-50. doi: 10.1093/gerona/gln054. Epub 2009 Feb 10.
Aging is known to alter the circadian rhythms of melatonin, serotonin, thermoregulatory responses, cytokine production, and sleep/wakefulness which affect sleep quality. We tested the possible palliative effects of a 3-day administration of melatonin (0.25 or 2.5 mg/kg of body weight [b.w.] to young and old ringdoves, respectively) or tryptophan (300 mg/kg of b.w. to old ringdoves) on these rhythms. Doves are a monophasic, diurnal species; these characteristics are similar in humans. Old animals presented lower melatonin and serotonin levels; higher interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha values; and reductions in the Midline-Estimating Statistic of Rhythm and amplitude of activity-rest rhythm and in the amplitude of the core temperature rhythm. Melatonin raised serum melatonin levels; tryptophan increased both melatonin and serotonin levels. Melatonin and tryptophan lowered nocturnal activity, core temperature, and cytokine levels and increased peripheral temperature in both groups. Melatonin or tryptophan may limit or reverse some of the changes that occur in sleep-wake rhythms and temperature due to age.
众所周知，衰老会改变褪黑素、血清素、体温调节反应、细胞因子产生以及睡眠/觉醒的昼夜节律，而这些会影响睡眠质量。我们测试了分别对年轻和年老的环颈鸽连续三天施用褪黑素（分别为0.25或2.5毫克/千克体重[b.w.]）或色氨酸（对年老环颈鸽为300毫克/千克体重[b.w.]）对这些节律可能产生的缓解作用。鸽子是单相昼行性物种；这些特征与人类相似。老年动物的褪黑素和血清素水平较低；白细胞介素（IL）-1β、IL-6和肿瘤坏死因子α值较高；节律的中线估计统计量、活动-休息节律的振幅以及核心体温节律的振幅降低。褪黑素提高了血清褪黑素水平；色氨酸增加了褪黑素和血清素水平。褪黑素和色氨酸降低了两组动物的夜间活动、核心体温和细胞因子水平，并提高了外周温度。褪黑素或色氨酸可能会限制或逆转因年龄导致的睡眠-觉醒节律和体温变化。
