Krause D N, Dubocovich M L
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92717.
Trends Neurosci. 1990 Nov;13(11):464-70. doi: 10.1016/0166-2236(90)90100-o.
The hormone melatonin was first identified about 30 years ago as a secretory product of the pineal gland. In mammals, the daily rhythm of pineal melatonin synthesis is controlled by neural inputs. The CNS is thought to be a primary target organ involved in mediating the influence of melatonin on a variety of physiological and behavioral processes, including biological rhythms, neuroendocrine function, activity levels and sleep. It now appears that melatonin is also produced in the retina and affects various aspects of retinal physiology. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of potential regulatory sites involved in the production and action of melatonin. In particular, this review focuses on the rapid advances being made in the characterization and localization of melatonin receptors in the CNS, retina and pituitary and on recent findings pertaining to the regulation of melatonin synthesis in the mammalian pineal gland and retina.
大约30年前，激素褪黑素首次被确认为松果体的一种分泌产物。在哺乳动物中，松果体褪黑素合成的日常节律受神经输入控制。中枢神经系统被认为是一个主要靶器官，参与介导褪黑素对多种生理和行为过程的影响，包括生物节律、神经内分泌功能、活动水平和睡眠。现在看来，视网膜也能产生褪黑素，并影响视网膜生理学的各个方面。本文旨在简要概述参与褪黑素产生和作用的潜在调节位点。特别是，本综述重点关注中枢神经系统、视网膜和垂体中褪黑素受体的表征和定位方面正在取得的快速进展，以及与哺乳动物松果体和视网膜中褪黑素合成调节有关的最新发现。
