Center Laboratory of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University (CMU), Shenyang, 110032, China; Department of Pharmacology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, CMU, Shenyang, 110032, China.
Department of Pharmacology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, CMU, Shenyang, 110032, China.
Biomed Pharmacother. 2021 Dec;144:112001. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112001. Epub 2021 Oct 6.
Melatonin, mostly released by the pineal gland, is a circadian rhythm-regulated and multifunctional hormone. Great advances in melatonin research have been made, including its role in rhythms of the sleep-wake cycle, retardation of ageing processes, as well as antioxidant or anti-inflammatory functions. Melatonin can scavenge free radicals such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), a key factor in reproductive functions. Melatonin plays an important role in oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryonic development as well. The concurrent use of melatonin increases the number of mature oocytes, the fertilization rate, and number of high-quality embryos, which improves the clinical outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART). This review discusses the relationship between melatonin and human reproductive function, and potential clinical applications of melatonin in the field of reproductive medicine.
褪黑素主要由松果体分泌，是一种受昼夜节律调节的多功能激素。褪黑素的研究取得了很大进展，包括其在睡眠-觉醒周期节律、延缓衰老过程以及抗氧化或抗炎功能中的作用。褪黑素可以清除自由基，如活性氧（ROS），这是生殖功能的关键因素。褪黑素在卵母细胞成熟、受精和胚胎发育中也起着重要作用。同时使用褪黑素可以增加成熟卵母细胞的数量、受精率和高质量胚胎的数量，从而改善辅助生殖技术（ART）的临床结局。本文讨论了褪黑素与人类生殖功能的关系，以及褪黑素在生殖医学领域的潜在临床应用。
