Lexic.us

Definition of Melatonin

1. Noun. Hormone secreted by the pineal gland.

Definition of Melatonin

1. Noun. A hormone, related to serotonin, that is secreted by the pineal gland, and stimulates colour change in the skin of reptiles, and is involved in the sleep/wake and reproductive cycles in mammals ¹

2. Noun. Any material similar in its chemistry and effect to the natural hormone. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Melatonin

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Melatonin

1. A hormone secreted by the pineal gland. In lower vertebrates causes aggregation of pigment in melanophores and thus lightens skin. In humans believed to play a role in establishment of circadian rhythms. (13 Nov 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Melatonin

Literary usage of Melatonin

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (1903)
"The mean quantity of immunoreactivity in a 1 ng/ml solution of melatonin ... The least detectable concentration of melatonin ranged between 3 and 34 pg/ml. ..."

2. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1883)
"Effects of administration of melatonin or of deprivation of water on ... Rats received melatonin (1 nip/kg per day intraperitoneally) or its diluent for 5 ..."

3. Niehs Report on Health Effects from Exposure to Power-Line Frequency by Kenneth Olden (1999)
"Grota LJ, Reiter RJ, Keng P, Michaelson S. Electric field exposure alters serum melatonin but not pineal melatonin synthesis in male rats. ..."

4. Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards by Committee on Fluoride in Drinking Water, National Research Council (2006)
"Most melatonin production occurs during darkness (Reiter 1998; Salti et al. ... Peak serum concentrations of melatonin occur during childhood in humans, ..."

5. Questions and Answers about Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the ...by DIANE Publishing Company by DIANE Publishing Company (1997)
"Melatonin provides the animals' reproductive system with the necessary ... If melatonin patterns are altered, the timing of reproduction can be affected. ..."

6. Biological Rhythms: Implications for the Worker by DIANE Publishing Company (1994)
"In some early studies, melatonin both succeeded and failed to act as a ... Other studies reported that melatonin counteracted subjective feelings of jet lag ..."

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