Skip to main content

Significance of Melatonin in Humans

  • Chapter
The Pineal Gland and Its Hormones

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSA,volume 277))

Abstract

During the last decade, interest in the possible clinical therapeutic actions of melatonin has increased dramatically. Experiments designed to assess the effects of melatonin in humans have had, as one objective, the clarification of the physiological role of melatonin and the pineal gland in man. However whilst we now know a great deal about the influence of exogenous melatonin on human physiology, its endogenous function remains speculative and based essentially on correlative observations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. M.B. Horowitz, Central nervous system germinomas, a review. Arch.Neurol. 48:652 (1991).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. E.A. Neuwelt and A.J. Lewy, Disappearance of plasma melatonin after removal of a neoplastic pineal gland, N. Engl. J. Med. 19:1132 (1983).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. T.A. Wehr, The durations of human melatonin secretion and sleep respond to changes in daylength(photoperiod),J.Clin.Endocrinol.Metab. 73:1276 (1991).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. J. Arendt, The pineal gland: basic physiology and clinical implications, in: De Groot:Endocrinology, 3rd Edition, W.B.Saunders and Co. Philadelphia, (1994), in press.

    Google Scholar 

  5. L. Tamarkin, C.J. Baird and O.F.X. Almeida, Melatonin: a coordinating signal for mammalian reproduction, Science 227:714 (1985).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. J. Beck-Friis, D. von Rosen, B.F. Kjellman, J.G. Ljungen and L. Wetterberg, Melatonin in relation to body measures, sex, age, season and the use of drugs in patients with major affective disorders and healthy subjects, Psychoneuroendocrinol. 9:261 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. H. Illnerova, P. Zvolsky and J. Vanecek, The circadian rhythm in plasma melatonin concentration of the urbanised man, the effect of summer and winter time, Brain Res. 328:186–189 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  8. J. Broadway, J. Arendt and S. Folkard, Bright light phase shifts the human melatonin rhythm during the Antarctic winter, Neurosci. Lett. 79:185 (1987).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. I. Makkison and J. Arendt, Melatonin secretion on two different Antarctic Bases (68oS and 75oS), Proceedings of the 7th meeting of the European Society for Chronobiology,Marburg,Germany,1991, J. Interdisciplinary Cycle Res. 22:149 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  10. C. Bojkowski and J. Arendt, Annual changes in 6-sulphatoxymelatonin excretion in man. Acta Endocrinol. 117:470 (1988).

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. T. Roenneberg and J. Aschoff, Annual rhythms in human reproduction: I.Biology,sociology or both? J. Biol. Rhythms 5:195 (1990).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. A.S. Parkes. Patterns of Sexuality and Reproduction. Oxford University Press, Oxford,(1976).

    Google Scholar 

  13. A. Kauppila, A. Kivela, A. Pakarinen and O. Vakkuri, Inverse seasonal relationship between melatonin and ovarian activity in humans in a region with a strong seasonal contrast in luminosity, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 65:823 (1987).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. N.E. Rosenthal, D.A. Sack, J.C. Gillin, A.J. Lewy, F.K. Goodwin, Y. Davenport,P.S. Mueller, D.A. Newsome and T.A. Wehr, Seasonal affective disorder. A description of the syndrome and preliminary findings with light therapy, Arch. Gen. Psychiatr. 41:72 (1984).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. A.J. Lewy, R.L. Sack, L.S. Miller, and T.M. Hoban, Anti-depressant and circadian phase-shifting effects of light. Science 235:352 (1987).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. S. Checkley, The relationship between biological rhythms and the affective disorders, in:J. Arendt, D.S. Minors, J. Waterhouse, (eds) Biological rhythms in clinical practice. Butterworth, London (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  17. A. Wirz-Justice, K. Krauchi, P. Graw, J. Arendt, J. English, H-J. Haug, G. Leonhardt,and D.P. Brunner, Are circadian rhythms involved in the pathophysiology of SAD and its treatment by light? Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, Florida, 4–8th May 1994, Abstr. 149.

    Google Scholar 

  18. J. Arendt, A.A. Borbely, C. Franey, and J. Wright, The effects of chronic, small doses of melatonin given in the late afternoon on fatigue in man: a preliminary study, Neurosci. Letts. 45:317 (1984).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. J. Wright, M. Aldhous, C. Franey,J. English, and J. Arendt, The effects of exogenous melatonin on endocrine function in man, Clin. Endocr. 24:375 (1986).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. J. Arendt, C. Bojkowski, S. Folkard, C. Franey, D.S. Minors, J.M. Waterhouse, R.A.Wever, C. Wildgruber and J. Wright, Some effects of melatonin and the control of its secretion in man, in: Evered D, Clark S (eds): Ciba Foundation Symposium 117. Photoperiodism, melatonin and the pineal, pp. 266–283. London: Pitman, (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  21. O. Tzischinsky, P. Lavie and I. Pal ,Time-dependent effects of 5 mg melatonin on the sleep propensity function, in: 11th European Congress on Sleep Research, July 1992, Helsinki, Finland.J. Sleep Res. 1:Suppl. 1, 234 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  22. A. Lewy, A. Saeeduddin, J. Latham Jackson and R. Sack, Melatonin shifts human circadian rhythms according to a phase-response curve, Chronobiol. Internat. 9: 380 (1992).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. B. Claustrat, Presented at the Philipe Laudat Conference on Neureobiology of Circadian and Seasonal Rhythms: Animal and Clinical Studies, Strasbourg/Bischenbereg, France, (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  24. A.B. Dollins, I.V. Zhdanova, R.J. Wurtman, H.J. Lynch and M.H. Deng, Effect of inducing nocturnal serum melatonin concentrations in daytime on sleep, mood, body temperature, and performance, Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 91:1824 (1994).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. S. Deacon, J. English and J. Arendt, Acute phase-shifting effects of melatonin associated with suppression of core body temperature, Neurosci. Lett. (1994), in press.

    Google Scholar 

  26. A.L. Poulton, J. English, A.M. Symons and J. Arendt, Effects of various melatonin treatments on plasma prolactin concentrations in the ewe, J. Endocrinol. 108:287 (1986).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. A.J. Lewy, T.A. Wehr, F.K. Goodwin, D.A. Newsome, and S.P. Markey, Light suppresses melatonin secretion in humans, Science 210:1267 (1980).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. C. Bojkowski, M. Aldhous, J. English, C. Franey, A.L. Poulton, D.J. Skene and J.Arendt, Suppression of nocturnal plasma melatonin and 6-sulphatoxymelatonin by bright and dim light in man, Harm. Metab. Res. 19:437 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. R.A. Wever, J. Polasek and C.M. Wildgruber, Bright light affects human circadian rhythms, Pflugers Arch. 396:85 (1983).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. C.A. Czeisler, J.S. Allan, J.S. Strogatz, J.M. Ronda, R. Sandrez, C.D. Rios, W.O.Freitag, G.S. Richardson, R.E. Kronauer, Bright light resets the human circadian pacemaker independent of the timing of the sleep-wake cycle, Science 233:667 (1986).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. D. Minors, J. Waterhouse and A. Wirz-Justice, A human phase-response curve to light,Neurosci. Lett. 133:36 (1991).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. T. Sweeney, A.M. Strijkstra and G.A. Lincoln, Infusion of melatonin during the light phase does not alter the daily locomotor activity pattern in the Soay ram, Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, Florida, 4–8th May 1994, Abstr. 137.

    Google Scholar 

  33. S. Deacon and J. Arendt, Use of melatonin to adapt to phase-shifts. I. Melatonin counters sleep problems after a large advance shift in external time cues in spite of ambient light conditions, Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, Florida, 4–8th May 1994, Abstr. 147.

    Google Scholar 

  34. J. Arendt and S. Deacon, Use of melatonin to adapt to phase shifts II. Mood and performance after a large advance shift in external time cues, Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, Florida, 4–8th May 1994, Abstr. 148.

    Google Scholar 

  35. R.J. Strassman, C.R. Quails, E.J. Lisansky and G.T. Peake, Elevated rectal temperature produced by all night bright light is reversed by melatonin infusion in man, J. Appl. Physiol., in press.

    Google Scholar 

  36. A. Cagnacci, J. Elliott and S. Yen, Melatonin: a major regulator of the circadian rhythm of core temperature in humans, J .Clin. Endocrinol .Metab. 75:447 (1992).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. J. Owen and J. Arendt, Melatonin suppression in human subjects by bright and dim light in Antarctica: time and season dependent effects, Neurosci. Lett. 137:181 (1992).

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. D.J. Kennaway and C.F. Van Dorp, Free running rhythms of melatonin, Cortisol,electrolytes and sleep in humans in Antarctica, Amer.J. Physiol. R1137 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  39. M. Dahlitz, B. Alvarez, J. Vignau, English J. Arendt and J.D. Parkes, Delayed sleep phase syndrome response to melatonin, Lancet i 337:1121 (1991).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. J. Arendt, M. Aldhous and V. Marks, Alleviation of jet-lag by melatonin: preliminary results of controlled double-blind trial, Br. Med. J. 292:1170 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. S. Folkard, J. Arendt and M. Clark, Can melatonin improve shift workers’ tolerance of the night shift? Some preliminary findings, Chronobiol. Internat. 10:315 (1993).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. J. Arendt, M. Aldhous, M. Marks, S. Folkard, J. English V. Marks and J. Arendt,Some effects of jet-lag and their treatment by melatonin, Ergonomics, 30:1379 (1987).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. J. Arendt, M. Aldhous and J. Wright, Synchronisation of a disturbed sleep-wake cycle in a blind man by melatonin treatment, Lancet i:772 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. M. Aldhous and J. Arendt, Melatonin rhythms and the sleep wake cycle in blind subjects.Proceedings of the 7th meeting of the European Society for Chronobiology,Marburg,Germany,1991, J. Interdisciplinary Cycle Res. 22:84 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Arendt, J. (1995). Significance of Melatonin in Humans. In: Fraschini, F., Reiter, R.J., Stankov, B. (eds) The Pineal Gland and Its Hormones. NATO ASI Series, vol 277. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1911-9_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1911-9_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5781-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1911-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics