Evaluation of GPR50, hMel-1B, and ROR- Melatonin-related Receptors and the Etiology of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis AIS is the most common spinal deformity in children. Studies have shown low melatonin levels resulting from pinealectomy in chickens and mice result in the development scoliosis, whereas supplementation with melatonin after the pinealectomy prevented it. The mere characterization of low melatonin levels is not sufficient to explain the development of idiopathic scoliosis in primates and humans, but we hypothesize that a mutation in melatonin-related receptors may be involved with the development of scoliosis.