| Ischemic stroke has remained a principal cause of mortality and neurological disabilities
worldwide. Blood flow resumption, reperfusion, in the cerebral ischemia prompts a
cascade in the brain characterized by various cellular mechanisms like mitochondrial
dysfunction, oxidative stresses, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and excitotoxicity,
finally resulting in programmed cell death. Any changes in the ER-mitochondria axis
are probably responsible for both the onset and progression of central nervous system
diseases. Melatonin, a neurohormone secreted by the pineal gland, has antioxidative,
anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. Most studies have shown that it exerts
neuroprotective effects against ischemic stroke. It was observed that melatonin therapy
after the stroke not only leads to reduce mitochondrial dysfunction but also cause to
alleviate ER stress and inflammation. This review discusses the impact of melatonin on
mitochondrial, ER function, and on the crosstalk between two organelles as a therapeutic
target for stroke. Given that the influences of melatonin on each organelle separately,
its effects on mechanisms of crosstalk between ER and mitochondria are discussed. |