A brief review about melatonin, a pineal hormone
Arch. endocrinol. metab. (Online)
; 62(4): 472-479, July-Aug. 2018. graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-950082
Responsible library:
BR1.1
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.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Melatonin
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Arch. endocrinol. metab. (Online)
Journal subject:
Endocrinology
/
Metabolism
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade Federal de São Paulo/BR
/
Universidade de São Paulo/BR