Journal
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
Volume 64, Issue 3, Pages 340-350Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
DOI: 10.1093/gerona/gln054
Keywords
Melatonin; Tryptophan; Temperature; Interleukins; Aging
Categories
Funding
- Consejeria de Infraestructuras y Desarrollo Tecnologico [3PR05A053]
- Consejeria de Economia, Comercio e Innovacion - Fondo Social Europeo [POS07012]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Aging is known to alter the circadian rhythms of melatonin, serotonin, thermoregulatory responses, cytokine production, and sleep/wakefulness which affect sleep quality. We tested the possible palliative effects of a 3-day administration of melatonin (0.25 or 2.5 mg/kg of body weight [b.w.] to young and old ringdoves, respectively) or tryptophan (300 mg/kg of b.w. to old ringdoves) on these rhythms. Doves are a monophasic, diurnal species; these characteristics are similar in humans. Old animals presented lower melatonin and serotonin levels; higher interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha values; and reductions in the Midline-Estimating Statistic of Rhythm and amplitude of activity-rest rhythm and in the amplitude of the core temperature rhythm. Melatonin raised serum melatonin levels; tryptophan increased both melatonin and serotonin levels. Melatonin and tryptophan lowered nocturnal activity, core temperature, and cytokine levels and increased peripheral temperature in both groups. Melatonin or tryptophan may limit or reverse some of the changes that occur in sleep-wake rhythms and temperature due to age.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available