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Melatonin : a chemical photoperiodic signal with clinical significance in humans

Chinese Medical Journal 1998年第3期111卷 5-11页

作者： S.F.Pang C.S.Pang A.M.S.Poon P.P.N.Lee Z.M.Liu S.Y.W.Shiu Department of Physiology University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China

Secretion of pineal melatonin exhibits a diurnal rhythm and a seasonal rhythm in humans. Night time melatonin is high at 3-5 year old and decreases with age. Many drugs and pathological conditions also change melatonin levels in the circulation. Melatonin has a mild sedative effect and has been used effectively in synchronizing the sleep wake cycle of patients with sleep disorders. Immunoenhancing, anti cancer, anti aging and anti oxidant effects of melatonin have been proposed. Recent studies suggest that melatonin receptors are present in central and peripheral tissues. The importance of melatonin receptors on the nervous, reproductive, immune and renal functions is implicated. Studies on the molecular biology, physiology and pathology of melatonin receptors in different tissues are progressing rapidly. The physiological and pathological changes in melatonin secretion, multifarious melatonin actions, and diverse melatonin receptors reported suggest that melatonin is a photoperiodic signal with clinical significance in humans.