Role of melatonin in spinal cord injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) impairs the autonomic nervous system and is associated with dysfunction or failure of multiple organs. Rehabilitation after SCI is a complicated process that involves improvement of motor and sensory function and amelioration of complications. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that melatonin treatment could protect the neural tissues of the spinal cord from secondary injury after SCI. Melatonin is an indoleamine naturally produced by the pineal gland and other tissues. It can easily cross the blood-brain barrier and has been shown to have neuroprotective properties in animal models with neurological injury, such as traumatic brain injury and SCI. We reviewed the potential mechanisms of melatonin treatment reducing SCI-related complications such as disruption of microcirculation, neurogenic bowel dysfunction, and circadian disorders.

Keywords

melatonin / spinal cord injury (SCI) / neuroprotection / microcirculation / neurogenic bowel dysfunction / circadian disorders