Melatonin,its receptor and type 2 diabetes

Abstract

Melatonin secretion shows a high level at nights and low in the daytime.However,insulin secretion goes the opposite way of melatonin.Melatonin inhibits insulin secretion,which is achieved by the melatonin membrane receptors and second messengers at the pancreatic β-cells.Serum melatonin levels decreases in diabetic patients and rats models,and the arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) activity at the pineal gland of rats models also decreases.Studies on polymorphism of melatonin receptors have shown that individuals with the melatonin receptor 1 B mutation have high risk of type 2 diabetes.Therefore,controlling the melatonin-induced inhibition of insulin secretion may be a novel therapeutic method for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. Key words: Melatonin ; Receptor ; Type 2 diabetes mellitus ;