melatonin
Sign in to saveMelatonin, an indoleamine, is a natural compound produced by various organisms, including bacteria and eukaryotes. Its discovery in 1958 by Aaron B. Lerner and colleagues stemmed from the isolation of a substance from the pineal gland of cows that could induce skin lightening in common frogs. This compound was later identified as a hormone secreted in the brain during the night, playing a crucial role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm, in vertebrates.
AI overview
Melatonin is a natural compound produced by your brain (and other organisms) that helps regulate your sleep-wake cycle by being released at night. Scientists discovered it in 1958 and found that it plays a crucial role in controlling your body's circadian rhythm, the internal clock that tells you when to sleep and when to wake.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Article
29 sectionsContents
- Biological activity
- Biological functions
- Circadian rhythm
- Immune system
- Weight regulation
- Biochemistry
- Biosynthesis
- Mechanism
- Regulation
- Metabolism
- Measurement
- Use as a medication and supplement
- Insomnia
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
- REM sleep behavior disorder
- Dementia
- Available forms
- History
- Discovery
- Etymology
- Occurrence
- Animals and Humans
- Plants
- Fungi
- Bacteria
- Archaea
- Food products
- References
- External links
Melatonin, an indoleamine, is a natural compound produced by various organisms, including bacteria and eukaryotes. Its discovery in 1958 by Aaron B. Lerner and colleagues stemmed from the isolation of a substance from the pineal gland of cows that could induce skin lightening in common frogs. This compound was later identified as a hormone secreted in the brain during the night, playing a crucial role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle, also known as the circadian rhythm, in vertebrates.
In vertebrates, melatonin's functions extend to synchronizing sleep-wake cycles, encompassing sleep-wake timing and blood pressure regulation, as well as controlling seasonal rhythmicity (circannual cycle), which includes reproduction, fattening, molting, and hibernation. Its effects are mediated through the activation of melatonin receptors and its role as an antioxidant. In plants and bacteria, it serves as a defense mechanism against oxidative stress, indicating its evolutionary significance. Mitochondria, key organelles, are the main producers of melatonin, underscoring its "ancient origins" and its fundamental role in protecting the earliest cells from reactive oxygen species.