Effects of melatonin on planaria head regeneration are dependent on both timing and duration of exposure

Abstract Melatonin is a multifunctional biomolecule with demonstrated stimulatory, inhibitory, and antioxidant effects, including both receptor‐mediated and receptor‐independent mechanisms of action. One of its more perplexing effects is the disruption of regeneration in planaria. Head regeneration...

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Main Authors: Simon C. Beeching, Hanna E. Ruland, Katelyn M. Sparks
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Physiological Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70151
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author Simon C. Beeching
Hanna E. Ruland
Katelyn M. Sparks
author_facet Simon C. Beeching
Hanna E. Ruland
Katelyn M. Sparks
author_sort Simon C. Beeching
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Melatonin is a multifunctional biomolecule with demonstrated stimulatory, inhibitory, and antioxidant effects, including both receptor‐mediated and receptor‐independent mechanisms of action. One of its more perplexing effects is the disruption of regeneration in planaria. Head regeneration in planaria is a remarkable phenomenon in which stem cells (neoblasts) migrate to the wound site, proliferate, then differentiate into all functional tissue types within days of injury. We investigated how both the timing and duration of melatonin exposure affect head regeneration in the planaria Phagocata gracilis (Haldeman). Our results demonstrate that P. gracilis is capable of recovery from the melatonin‐induced delay of regeneration and reveal the time required to recover to control levels. Further, we found evidence of regenerative stage‐specific responses to discontinuous melatonin exposure, including non‐inhibitory effects. Further exploration of melatonin's effects on regeneration can be targeted to specific regenerative processes, and the possibility of multiple mechanisms of action should be recognized.
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spelling doaj-art-1668aef063d44129b9636c7285a60a2d2025-01-27T13:49:52ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2025-01-01132n/an/a10.14814/phy2.70151Effects of melatonin on planaria head regeneration are dependent on both timing and duration of exposureSimon C. Beeching0Hanna E. Ruland1Katelyn M. Sparks2Department of Biology Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Pennsylvania USADepartment of Biology Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Pennsylvania USADepartment of Biology Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Pennsylvania USAAbstract Melatonin is a multifunctional biomolecule with demonstrated stimulatory, inhibitory, and antioxidant effects, including both receptor‐mediated and receptor‐independent mechanisms of action. One of its more perplexing effects is the disruption of regeneration in planaria. Head regeneration in planaria is a remarkable phenomenon in which stem cells (neoblasts) migrate to the wound site, proliferate, then differentiate into all functional tissue types within days of injury. We investigated how both the timing and duration of melatonin exposure affect head regeneration in the planaria Phagocata gracilis (Haldeman). Our results demonstrate that P. gracilis is capable of recovery from the melatonin‐induced delay of regeneration and reveal the time required to recover to control levels. Further, we found evidence of regenerative stage‐specific responses to discontinuous melatonin exposure, including non‐inhibitory effects. Further exploration of melatonin's effects on regeneration can be targeted to specific regenerative processes, and the possibility of multiple mechanisms of action should be recognized.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70151healinghormesismelatoninmorphogenneoblastplanaria
spellingShingle Simon C. Beeching
Hanna E. Ruland
Katelyn M. Sparks
Effects of melatonin on planaria head regeneration are dependent on both timing and duration of exposure
Physiological Reports
healing
hormesis
melatonin
morphogen
neoblast
planaria
title Effects of melatonin on planaria head regeneration are dependent on both timing and duration of exposure
title_full Effects of melatonin on planaria head regeneration are dependent on both timing and duration of exposure
title_fullStr Effects of melatonin on planaria head regeneration are dependent on both timing and duration of exposure
title_full_unstemmed Effects of melatonin on planaria head regeneration are dependent on both timing and duration of exposure
title_short Effects of melatonin on planaria head regeneration are dependent on both timing and duration of exposure
title_sort effects of melatonin on planaria head regeneration are dependent on both timing and duration of exposure
topic healing
hormesis
melatonin
morphogen
neoblast
planaria
url https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70151
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AT hannaeruland effectsofmelatoninonplanariaheadregenerationaredependentonbothtiminganddurationofexposure
AT katelynmsparks effectsofmelatoninonplanariaheadregenerationaredependentonbothtiminganddurationofexposure