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Molecular Mechanisms of Melatonin Action: Targets in Sleep Regulation

  • Chapter
Neuroendocrine Correlates of Sleep/Wakefulness

Abstract

Melatonin, the principal hormone secreted by the pineal gland, influences the function of diverse neuroendocrine and other systems in mammals. This indoleamine hormone is also involved in maintaining brain homeostasis, entraining biological rhythms and coordinating reproductive function to changes in photoperiod in seasonal breeders.1,2 Other studies indicate a potentially important immunomodulatory role for melatonin which binds with high-affinity to T lymphocytes3 and is synthesized by human lymphocytes4

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ontario, Canada

    Lennard P. Niles

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  1. Lennard P. Niles
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  1. Department of Physiology Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Buenos Aires, 1121

    Daniel P. Cardinali

  2. SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, 11203, New York, USA

    S. R. Pandi-Perumal

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© 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

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Niles, L.P. (2006). Molecular Mechanisms of Melatonin Action: Targets in Sleep Regulation. In: Cardinali, D.P., Pandi-Perumal, S.R. (eds) Neuroendocrine Correlates of Sleep/Wakefulness. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-387-23692-9_6

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