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Abstract
In many species of vertebrates the pineal gland and its indoleamine hormone melatonin
play central roles in the control of circadian rhythms, whereas in some species, the
pineal gland appears to hold little importance. However, recent research indicates
that the circadian rhythms of many species of reptiles, birds and mammals, including
humans, are synchronized by the administration of exogenous melatonin. These studies
have led to questions concerning the role of this hormone in circadian organization
in general. Studies of the sites and mechanisms of melatonin action further indicate
that melatonin may be an excellent pharmacological tool for research on the cellular
mechanisms of circadian clock function and have pointed to the possibility that melatonin
or melatonin analogues may be therapeutically useful for the control of circadian
clock dysfunctions such as jet lag, shift-work syndrome and sleep disorders.