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Molcan L, Babarikova K, Cvikova D, Kincelova N, Kubincova L, Mauer Sutovska H. Artificial light at night suppresses the day-night cardiovascular variability: evidence from humans and rats. Pflugers Arch 2024; 476:295-306. [PMID: 38177874 PMCID: PMC10847188 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02901-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Artificial light at night (ALAN) affects most of the population. Through the retinohypothalamic tract, ALAN modulates the activity of the central circadian oscillator and, consequently, various physiological systems, including the cardiovascular one. We summarised the current knowledge about the effects of ALAN on the cardiovascular system in diurnal and nocturnal animals. Based on published data, ALAN reduces the day-night variability of the blood pressure and heart rate in diurnal and nocturnal animals by increasing the nocturnal values of cardiovascular variables in diurnal animals and decreasing them in nocturnal animals. The effects of ALAN on the cardiovascular system are mainly transmitted through the autonomic nervous system. ALAN is also considered a stress-inducing factor, as glucocorticoid and glucose level changes indicate. Moreover, in nocturnal rats, ALAN increases the pressure response to load. In addition, ALAN induces molecular changes in the heart and blood vessels. Changes in the cardiovascular system significantly depend on the duration of ALAN exposure. To some extent, alterations in physical activity can explain the changes observed in the cardiovascular system after ALAN exposure. Although ALAN acts differently on nocturnal and diurnal animals, we can conclude that both exhibit a weakened circadian coordination among physiological systems, which increases the risk of future cardiovascular complications and reduces the ability to anticipate stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubos Molcan
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Katarina Babarikova
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Diana Cvikova
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Natalia Kincelova
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lenka Kubincova
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Hana Mauer Sutovska
- Department of Animal Physiology and Ethology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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Sieminski M, Szaruta-Raflesz K, Szypenbejl J, Krzyzaniak K. Potential Neuroprotective Role of Melatonin in Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy Due to Its Scavenging and Anti-Oxidative Properties. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1786. [PMID: 37760089 PMCID: PMC10525116 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12091786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. The brain is one of the organs involved in sepsis, and sepsis-induced brain injury manifests as sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). SAE may be present in up to 70% of septic patients. SAE has a very wide spectrum of clinical symptoms, ranging from mild behavioral changes through cognitive disorders to disorders of consciousness and coma. The presence of SAE increases mortality in the population of septic patients and may lead to chronic cognitive dysfunction in sepsis survivors. Therefore, therapeutic interventions with neuroprotective effects in sepsis are needed. Melatonin, a neurohormone responsible for the control of circadian rhythms, exerts many beneficial physiological effects. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are well described. It is considered a potential therapeutic factor in sepsis, with positive results from studies on animal models and with encouraging results from the first human clinical trials. With its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, it may also exert a neuroprotective effect in sepsis-associated encephalopathy. The review presents data on melatonin as a potential drug in SAE in the wider context of the pathophysiology of SAE and the specific actions of the pineal neurohormone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariusz Sieminski
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-214 Gdansk, Poland; (K.S.-R.); (K.K.)
| | | | - Jacek Szypenbejl
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-214 Gdansk, Poland; (K.S.-R.); (K.K.)
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Repova K, Baka T, Krajcirovicova K, Stanko P, Aziriova S, Reiter RJ, Simko F. Melatonin as a Potential Approach to Anxiety Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232416187. [PMID: 36555831 PMCID: PMC9788115 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232416187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental diseases. Anxiety and the associated physical symptoms may disturb social and occupational life and increase the risk of somatic diseases. The pathophysiology of anxiety development is complex and involves alterations in stress hormone production, neurosignaling pathways or free radical production. The various manifestations of anxiety, its complex pathophysiological background and the side effects of available treatments underlie the quest for constantly seeking therapies for these conditions. Melatonin, an indolamine produced in the pineal gland and released into the blood on a nightly basis, has been demonstrated to exert anxiolytic action in animal experiments and different clinical conditions. This hormone influences a number of physiological actions either via specific melatonin receptors or by receptor-independent pleiotropic effects. The underlying pathomechanism of melatonin's benefit in anxiety may reside in its sympatholytic action, interaction with the renin-angiotensin and glucocorticoid systems, modulation of interneuronal signaling and its extraordinary antioxidant and radical scavenging nature. Of importance, the concentration of this indolamine is significantly higher in cerebrospinal fluid than in the blood. Thus, ensuring sufficient melatonin production by reducing light pollution, which suppresses melatonin levels, may represent an endogenous neuroprotective and anxiolytic treatment. Since melatonin is freely available, economically undemanding and has limited side effects, it may be considered an additional or alternative treatment for various conditions associated with anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Repova
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tomas Baka
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Kristina Krajcirovicova
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Stanko
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Silvia Aziriova
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Russel J. Reiter
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UT Health San Antonio, Long School of Medicine, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Fedor Simko
- Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 81108 Bratislava, Slovakia
- 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, 83305 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 84505 Bratislava, Slovakia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +421-(0)2-59357276
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