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CC BY 4.0 · J Brachial Plex Peripher Nerve Inj 2017; 12(01): e1-e6
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1597838
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

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

Yigit Uyanikgil
1   Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
2   Cord Blood, Cell-Tissue Research and Application Center, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
,
Turker Cavusoglu
1   Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
2   Cord Blood, Cell-Tissue Research and Application Center, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
,
Kubilay Dogan Kılıc
1   Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
,
Gurkan Yigitturk
1   Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
,
Servet Celik
3   Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey
,
Richard Shane Tubbs
4   Seattle Science Foundation, Seattle, Washington, United States
,
Mehmet Turgut
5   Department of Neurosurgery, Adnan Menderes University School of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

22 September 2016

28 November 2016

Publication Date:
16 February 2017 (online)

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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 - peripheral nerve - nerve injury - pineal gland
 

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