Physiological effects of melatonin hormone
Özüm Büke Atasoy1, Oytun Erbaş2
1İstanbul Bilim Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, İstanbul, Türkiye
2İstanbul Bilim Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fizyoloji Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul, Türkiye
Keywords: Immunodulation; melatonin; pineal gland; sleep.
Abstract
Melatonin is the pineal gland hormone known for a long period of time. Basically, it has immunomodulatory, intra-day and seasonal rhythm adjusting, and sleep regulating effects. Melatonin receptors are distributed throughout the entire body. Melatonin and its agonists, which are used against sleep disorder and also as antidepressant, are still tested in the treatment of many diseases.