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REVIEW article

Front. Physiol.
Sec. Reproductive and Mating Physiology
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1501334
This article is part of the Research Topic Recent Advances in Reproductive Neuroendocrinology View all 3 articles

Melatonin as a Multifunctional Modulator: Emerging Insights into Its Role in Health, Reproductive Efficiency, and Productive Performance in Livestock

Provisionally accepted
Ali Afzal Ali Afzal 1,2*
  • 1 Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • 2 Minhaj University Lahore, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Melatonin, a pleiotropic hormone plays a vital role in enhancing livestock performance not only by regulating circadian rhythms but also by exhibiting antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and metabolic regulatory effects that collectively improve resilience, fertility, and productivity.Melatonin's synthesis is predominantly influenced by light exposure, with increased production in darkness; however, factors such as diet and health status further modulate its levels. By helping animals adapt to environmental stressors, melatonin boosts immune responses, mitigates chronic illnesses, and optimizes production efficiency. Its regulatory influence extends to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, enhancing hormone secretion, synchronizing estrous cycles, and improving embryo viability. This results in improved reproductive outcomes through the protection of gametes, increased sperm motility, and enhanced oocyte quality, all of which benefit the fertilization process. Additionally, melatonin positively impacts productive performance, promoting muscle growth, development, and optimizing milk yield and composition through its interaction with metabolic and endocrine systems. As ongoing research continues to uncover its broader physiological effects, melatonin supplementation emerges as a promising approach to improving livestock welfare, productivity, and sustainability in modern animal husbandry.

    Keywords: Melatonin, Health, Antioxidant status, Animal performance, Production Potential

    Received: 24 Sep 2024; Accepted: 22 Nov 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Afzal. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Ali Afzal, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.