Receptor and Non-Receptor Mediated Actions of Melatonin

Previous hypes and hopes have clouded the use of melatonin, the pineal gland indoleamine hormone, as a health food supplement. Recently however, significant advances have been made in our understanding of the signal transduction mechanisms of many well-known and potential physiological and pharmacological actions of melatonin in mammals. This timely publication was put together by an international group of pineal researchers whose major research focus is unraveling the mammalian physiology and pharmacology of melatonin at the cellular, tissue and organismic levels. It collates the latest scientific information on the receptor and non-receptor mediated mechanisms of melatonin actions. The respective articles address the roles played by G protein-coupled melatonin receptor subtypes in the modulation of biological rhythms in mammals, including the seasonal reproductive responses. The different functions of membrane and nuclear melatonin receptors in the regulation of mammalian immune responses and epididymal cell biology are also discussed. In addition, the biochemical mechanisms of the free radical scavenging functions of melatonin, using physiological and pharmacological concentrations are authoritatively reviewed in the specific contributions of this publication.