IMR Press / CEOG / Volume 31 / Issue 2 / pii/2004029

Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics & Gynecology (CEOG) is published by IMR Press from Volume 47 Issue 1 (2020). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with S.O.G.

Original Research

Pharmacological effects of melatonin on reproductive activity: experimental bioimplants with sustained-release polymeric systems

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1 Specialist in Hospital Pharmacy, University of Messina, University of Milan (Italy)
2 Ph.D. in Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, University of Messina, Italy
3 Genetist, United Hospitals of Reggio Calabria (Italy)
4 Drector, Gynecology and Obstetrics Clinic, University of Messina (Italy)
5 Researcher, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Milan (Italy)
6 Director, Department of Physiopathology of Veterinary Reproduction, University of Milan (Italy)
Clin. Exp. Obstet. Gynecol. 2004, 31(2), 117–119;
Published: 10 June 2004
Abstract

A vast literature documents the role of melatonin in human reproductive function including: a) the relation between melatonin and the menstrual cycle in relation to the peak time of luteinizing hormone in the middle of the cycle; b) the varying concen­trations of melatonin in the control of puberty; c) the fewer conceptions in some artic populations where melatonin is connected significantly to seasonal photoperiodicity during the months of the polar nights. The aim of this paper is to report our findings on the pharmacological action of this molecule on reproduction in which gonadal activity is clearly connected to photoperiodicity We used polymer bioimplants programmed for the sustained release of melatonin for experimental gynecologic protocols. These implants had beneficial results with respect to the use of progestinics because melatonin allowed ovarian activity to be induced for at least two to three consecutive cycles with one single bioimplant. We thought it indispensable to use pharmacological systems with a sustained release because different preliminary tests showed that the half-life of melatonin is limited at maximum to two to three hours and, consequently, any other tested modalities of administration would not provide any appreciable results for our study. As a model for our research we used goats to administer melatonin via targeted programs since these animals clearly respond (even against the rule of the light/dark relation) in contrast to humans in whom response is less evident. For controls, after inserting bioimplants in the animals, we tested their efficiency in vitro and subsequently in vivo, evaluating blood parameters and pharmacological effects of melatonin occurring during the treatment. The final results proved to be interesting in relation to reproductive activity in that regular and programmed births were achieved.

Keywords
Melatonin
Sustained-release systems
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