Melatonin: Present and FutureMelatonin is a neurohormone produced in the brain by the pineal gland, from the amino acid tryptophan. The synthesis and release of melatonin are stimulated by darkness and suppressed by light, suggesting the involvement of melatonin in circadian rhythm and regulation of diverse body functions. Levels of melatonin start to increase prior to bedtime. Synthetic melatonin supplements have been used for a variety of medical conditions, most notably for disorders related to sleep. Melatonin possesses antioxidant activity, and many of its proposed therapeutic or preventive uses are based on this property. This important book presents a full spectrum of research on melatonin and is destined to become an essential reference for anyone interested in melatonin. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Melatonin Relationship with Cell Death | 35 |
A Wide Range of Melatonin Actions in the Immune System | 59 |
Melatonin on Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases | 89 |
Effects of Melatonin on Cardiovascular System | 109 |
Melatonin as a Radioprotective Agent | 127 |
Melatonin Aging and Health | 143 |
Melatonin and the Cytoprotective Role of Sleep | 175 |
Melatonin and Sleep | 217 |
Melatonin Reduces Molecular Damage and Physiological Dysfunction in Experimental Models of Neurodegeneration | 261 |
Melatonin in Neuroprotection and Neurodevelopment | 299 |
Neuroprotective Role of Melatonin Against Alzheimers Disease Huntingtons Disease and other Cerebral Disorders | 315 |
| 349 | |
Common terms and phrases
acid actions of melatonin activity Acuña-Castroviejo administration of melatonin aging Alzheimer's disease amyloid antioxidant antioxidant enzymes apoptosis benzodiazepine Biochem Biol bone Brain Res Ca2+ cancer cell death cellular circadian rhythm Clin cycle cytokines decrease disorders doses effect of melatonin endogenous enzymes Escames excitotoxicity factor free radicals function gene glutathione hormone human Huntington's disease immune system increase induced inhibition injury insomnia intracellular involved ischemia kinase Lett lipid peroxidation liver lymphocytes mechanisms mediated melatonin administration melatonin levels Melatonin prevents Melatonin protects melatonin receptors Melatonin reduces melatonin secretion melatonin treatment membrane metabolism mice mitochondrial molecular MPTP neurodegenerative neuronal neuroprotective Neurosci nitric oxide nitric oxide synthase nocturnal oxidative damage oxidative stress oxygen pathways patients Pharmacol Physiol physiological pineal gland Pineal Res pinealectomy Poeggeler production Protective effect protein rats reactive redox regulation Reiter RJ response role of melatonin sleep-wake studies superoxide synthesis tissues toxicity vitro vivo wakefulness