title: Role of melatonin in the regulation of human circadian rhythms and sleep.
abstract: The circadian rhythm of pineal melatonin is the best marker of internal time under low ambient light levels. The endogenous melatonin rhythm exhibits a close association with the endogenous circadian component of the sleep propensity rhythm. This has led to the idea that melatonin is an internal sleep "facilitator" in humans, and therefore useful in the treatment of insomnia and the readjustment of circadian rhythms. There is evidence that administration of melatonin is able: (i) to induce sleep when the homeostatic drive to sleep is insufficient; (ii) to inhibit the drive for wakefulness emanating from the circadian pacemaker; and (iii) induce phase shifts in the circadian clock such that the circadian phase of increased sleep propensity occurs at a new, desired time. Therefore, exogenous melatonin can act as soporific agent, a chronohypnotic, and/or a chronobiotic. We describe the role of melatonin in the regulation of sleep, and the use of exogenous melatonin to treat sleep or circadian rhythm disorders.
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronobiology, Psychiatric University Clinic, Wilhelm Kleinstrasse 27, CH-4025 Basel, Switzerland. christian.cajochen@pukbasel.ch
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cajochen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kräuchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wirz-Justice
mesh_terms: D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D021081:Chronobiology Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin