Melatonin and the Pineal Gland

The aim of this book is to integrate clinical, physiological, rhythmic, pharmacological, cellular and molecular aspects of biosynthesis, metabolism, regulation and action of melatonin and related indoles. Significant advances on pineal research and their applications to the clinical field are focused upon. Among the topics featured in this publication are the following: role of the pineal gland in rhythmic functions, pineal-retinal relationship, melatonin effector mechanisms, melatonin receptors, biochemistry of the pineal gland, neural connections of the pineal gland, melatonin production, therapeutics prospects for melatonin and analogues. A summarized version of the contents is listed hereunder.