2-Minute Neuroscience: Melatonin

Melatonin is a derivative of serotonin best known for its role as a hormone. In this video, I discuss various aspects of melatonin, including its synthesis, functions, and receptors. TRANSCRIPT: Melatonin is a derivative of serotonin best known for its role as a hormone. It is produced in a small endocrine gland in the brain called the pineal gland, as well as in the retina and a number of other organs and cells. The melatonin produced in the pineal gland, however, is thought to contribute most to circulating levels of melatonin in the bloodstream. Synthesis of melatonin in the pineal gland, and resultant levels of melatonin in the bloodstream, exhibit a clear circadian rhythm, where they are highest at night. This nighttime melatonin production is stimulated by neural input from a structure called the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which acts as a master circadian clock for the brain. Indeed, the best understood function of melatonin is its role in regulating circadian rhythms. Rising melatoni