Abstract—This review summarizes the current understanding of the regulatory role of melatonin in the formation of the nervous system in the antenatal and early postnatal period of body development. We discuss questions concerning the involvement of melatonin and the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus, which are the central oscillator of biorhythms, in the synchronization of the functions of various body systems. The mechanisms of protection of the developing brain from the damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation are discussed. We presented a detailed list of biomarkers of this process, whose analysis may help to evaluate disturbances of the cognitive functions in early ontogeny, which often have remote consequences. Special attention is paid to the neuroprotective effect of melatonin on offspring during hyperhomocysteinemia, which disturbs epigenetic regulation by affecting the methylation processes (methyltransferase activity) in the nervous system and entire body. This material justifies the prospects for the use of melatonin in clinics for the treatment of disorders of the functional activity of the brain of the fetus and newborn.

中文翻译：

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褪黑素在早期个体发育中大脑形态功能发育中的作用

摘要—这篇综述总结了褪黑激素在身体发育的产前和产后早期对神经系统形成的调节作用的当前理解。我们讨论了褪黑素和下丘脑的视交叉上核（生物节律的中心振荡器）参与各种身体系统功能同步的问题。讨论了保护大脑发育免受氧化应激和炎症损害的机制。我们提供了此过程的生物标志物的详细列表，其分析可能有助于评估早期个体发育中认知功能的紊乱，而这种紊乱往往会带来遥远的后果。特别注意褪黑素对高同型半胱氨酸血症的后代的神经保护作用，通过影响神经系统和整个身体的甲基化过程（甲基转移酶活性）来干扰表观遗传调控。这种材料证明了褪黑素在临床上用于治疗胎儿和新生儿大脑功能活动障碍的前景。