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Effect of Chlorpromazine and Other Drugs on the Disposition of Circulating Melatonin

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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