Abstract
THE mammalian pineal gland has the unique ability to synthesize methoxyindoles such as melatonin1,2 and methoxytryptophol3. It has been suggested that these compounds function as hormones4,5: melatonin is secreted into the circulation4,6 and efficiently extracted from the blood by most tissues7,8; both compounds inhibit gonad function4,5,9, and it has also been claimed that melatonin acts on the thyroid10,11, gut12, pituitary13, skin14 and brain15.
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WURTMAN, R., AXELROD, J. Effect of Chlorpromazine and Other Drugs on the Disposition of Circulating Melatonin. Nature 212, 312 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/212312a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/212312a0