Mishima Kazuo
Department of Psychophysiology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center for Neurology and Psychiatry.
Nihon Rinsho. 2012 Jul;70(7):1139-44.
Melatonin(N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is synthesized from tryptophan and is intensively secreted into the blood only in darkness (nighttime) by the pineal gland. Melatonin is not only the most reliable marker of internal circadian phase but also a potent sleep-promoting and circadian phase regulatory agent in humans. There is evidence that daytime administered melatonin is able to exhibit short-acting hypnagogic effect and phase-shifting of the circadian rhythms such that sleep timing and associated various physiological functions realign at a new desired phase. Under favor of these properties, melatonin and melatonin receptor agonists have been shown to be potent therapeutic agents for the treatment of circadian rhythm sleep disorders and some type of insomnia.
褪黑素（N-乙酰-5-甲氧基色胺）由色氨酸合成，仅在黑暗（夜间）时由松果体大量分泌到血液中。褪黑素不仅是体内昼夜节律相位最可靠的标志物，也是一种有效的促睡眠和昼夜节律相位调节剂。有证据表明，白天服用褪黑素能够产生短效的催眠作用，并使昼夜节律发生相位偏移，从而使睡眠时间和相关的各种生理功能在新的期望相位重新调整。基于这些特性，褪黑素和褪黑素受体激动剂已被证明是治疗昼夜节律性睡眠障碍和某些类型失眠的有效治疗药物。
