ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTION OF MELATONIN AND MELATONIN RECEPTOR AGONIST: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND TREATMENT

Authors

  • Abner do Amaral Gomes Universidade Brasil
  • Bruna Marçal Guidoti Eleutério Universidade Brasil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51891/rease.v9i10.11788

Keywords:

Agomelatine. Antidepressant. Depression. Melatonin. Ramelteon.

Abstract

Depression has become one of the most commonly prevalent neuropsychiatric disorders, and the main characteristics of depression are sleep disorders and melatonin secretion disorders caused by circadian rhythm disorders. Abnormal endogenous melatonin alterations can contribute to the occurrence and development of depression. However, molecular mechanisms underlying this abnormality remain ambiguous. The present review summarizes the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of melatonin, which is related to its functions in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, inhibition of neuroinflammation, inhibition of oxidative stress, alleviation of autophagy, and upregulation of neurotrophic, promotion of neuroplasticity and upregulation of the levels of neurotransmitters, etc. Also, melatonin receptor agonists, such as agomelatine, ramelteon, piromelatine, tasimelteon, and GW117, have received considerable critical attention and are highly implicated in treating depression and comorbid disorders. This review focuses on melatonin and various melatonin receptor agonists in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression, aiming to provide further insight into the pathogenesis of depression and explore potential targets for novel agent development.

Author Biographies

Abner do Amaral Gomes, Universidade Brasil

Graduando do Curso de Farmácia pela Universidade Brasil. 

Bruna Marçal Guidoti Eleutério, Universidade Brasil

Graduação em Farmácia pela Fundação Educacional de Fernandópolis e graduando licenciatura em Química. Lattes: http://lattes.cnpq.br/3109674418600513.

Published

2023-11-16

How to Cite

Gomes, A. do A., & Eleutério, B. M. G. (2023). ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTION OF MELATONIN AND MELATONIN RECEPTOR AGONIST: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND TREATMENT. Revista Ibero-Americana De Humanidades, Ciências E Educação, 9(10), 3185–3204. https://doi.org/10.51891/rease.v9i10.11788