Melatonin and the pineal gland: influence on mammalian seasonal and circadian physiology
Melatonin and the pineal gland: influence on mammalian seasonal and circadian physiology
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DOI：
10.1530/revreprod/3.1.13
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发表时间：
1998-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Arendt, J
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Arendt, J
松果体褪黑激素的分泌有明显的昼夜节律。正常情况下，分泌量最大的时候是在白天的黑暗阶段，分泌的持续时间反映了夜晚的持续时间。分泌的变化曲线作为白昼长度的函数传递了哺乳动物季节节律组织的光周期信息。褪黑素在哺乳动物昼夜生理中的作用尚不清楚。然而，外源性褪黑素可以相移，在某些情况下，还会干扰啮齿动物和人类的昼夜节律。它还可以降低体温，引起短暂的嗜睡。这些特性表明褪黑素可用于治疗昼夜节律紊乱。已经报道了成功的结果，例如时差和轮班工作，以及一些盲人受试者的周期性睡眠障碍。褪黑素受体的几种亚型存在于大脑、视网膜、垂体和其他地方。目前正在加紧调查。褪黑激素激动剂和拮抗剂正在开发中。
The pineal hormone melatonin is secreted with a marked circadian rhythm. Normally, maximum production occurs during the dark phase of the day and the duration of secretion reflects the duration of the night. The changing profile of secretion as a function of daylength conveys photoperiodic information for the organization of seasonal rhythms in mammals. The role of melatonin in mammalian circadian physiology is less clear. However, exogenous melatonin can phase shift, and in some cases entrain, circadian rhythms in rodents and humans. It can also lower body temperature and induce transient sleepiness. These properties indicate that melatonin can be used therapeutically in circadian rhythm disorder. Successful outcomes have been reported, for example in jet lag and shift work, and with cyclic sleep disorder of some blind subjects. Melatonin receptors of several subtypes are found in the brain, the retina, the pituitary and elsewhere. They are currently under intense investigation. Melatonin agonists and antagonists are under development.