Document Detail


Influences of melatonin on human circadian rhythms.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9095379     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Administration of melatonin is useful in the treatment of desynchronized conditions. The mechanisms through which melatonin exerts its effect are not completely clear. Melatonin exerts direct effects on several biological functions, such as the regulation of body temperature, but there is no proof that these actions are important in the indirect regulation of main pacemaker activity. By contrast, it is very likely that melatonin exerts direct effects on circadian clocks, and that depending on the time of its administration/presence, it antagonizes or promotes the phase-shifting effects exerted by light. It is possible that melatonin regulates its own secretion and that its prolonged or shortened secretion in the period of the night-day transition is responsible for the lengthening or shortening, respectively, of the nocturnal melatonin rise. This possibility that needs to be confirmed by extensive studies may represent a physiological mechanism through which photoperiodic information is more rapidly and efficiently transformed by melatonin in a circadian signal to all the body.
Authors:
A Cagnacci
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Chronobiology international     Volume:  14     ISSN:  0742-0528     ISO Abbreviation:  Chronobiol. Int.     Publication Date:  1997 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-06-09     Completed Date:  1997-06-09     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8501362     Medline TA:  Chronobiol Int     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  205-20     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Istituto di Fisiopatologia della Riproduzione Umana, Università di Modena, Italy.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Body Temperature Regulation / drug effects
Circadian Rhythm / drug effects,  physiology*
Humans
Light
Melatonin / pharmacology,  physiology*,  therapeutic use
Models, Neurological
Neurons / physiology
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus / physiology*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
73-31-4/Melatonin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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