A brief review about melatonin, a pineal hormone
Arch. endocrinol. metab. (Online)
;
62(4): 472-479, July-Aug. 2018. graf
Artículo
en Inglés
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-950082
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Melatonin is a ubiquitous molecule in nature, being locally synthesized in several cells and tissues, besides being a hormone that is centrally produced in the pineal gland of vertebrates, particularly in mammals. Its pineal synthesis is timed by the suprachiasmatic nucleus, that is synchronized to the light-dark cycle via the retinohypothalamic tract, placing melatonin synthesis at night, provided its dark. This unique trait turns melatonin into an internal synchronizer that adequately times the organism's physiology to the daily and seasonal demands. Besides being amphiphilic, melatonin presents specific mechanisms and ways of action devoted to its role as a time-giving agent, being widely spread in the organism. The present review aims to focus on melatonin as a pineal hormone with specific mechanisms and ways of action, besides presenting the clinical syndromes related to its synthesis and/or function disruptions.
Texto completo:
Disponible
Índice:
LILACS (Américas)
Asunto principal:
Melatonina
Límite:
Humanos
Idioma:
Inglés
Revista:
Arch. endocrinol. metab. (Online)
Asunto de la revista:
Endocrinologia
/
Metabolismo
Año:
2018
Tipo del documento:
Artículo
País de afiliación:
Brasil
Institución/País de afiliación:
Universidade Federal de São Paulo/BR
/
Universidade de São Paulo/BR
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