National Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.
State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Molecules. 2018 Feb 17;23(2):447. doi: 10.3390/molecules23020447.
Melatonin is a ubiquitous molecule and exhibits different effects in long-day and short-day breeding animals. Testosterone, the main resource of androgens in the testis, is produced by Leydig cells but regulated mainly by cytokine secreted by Sertoli cells. Melatonin acts as a local modulator of the endocrine activity in Leydig cells. In Sertoli cells, melatonin influences cellular proliferation and energy metabolism and, consequently, can regulate steroidogenesis. These suggest melatonin as a key player in the regulation of steroidogenesis. However, the melatonin-induced regulation of steroid hormones may differ among species, and the literature data indicate that melatonin has important effects on steroidogenesis and male reproduction.
褪黑素是一种普遍存在的分子，在长日和短日繁殖动物中表现出不同的作用。睾丸中的主要雄激素睾酮由间质细胞产生，但主要受支持细胞分泌的细胞因子调节。褪黑素作为间质细胞内分泌活动的局部调节剂。在支持细胞中，褪黑素影响细胞增殖和能量代谢，因此可以调节类固醇生成。这表明褪黑素是调节类固醇生成的关键因素。然而，褪黑素诱导的类固醇激素调节可能因物种而异，文献数据表明褪黑素对类固醇生成和男性生殖具有重要作用。
