title: Pineal gland interface between the photoperiodic environment and the endocrine system.
abstract: The photoperiodic message that the pineal gland conveys to the organism is encoded in the circadian melatonin rhythm. Melatonin is a ubiquitously acting hormone that mediates seasonal changes in reproduction in nonhuman mammals and may have reproductive consequences in humans as well. Additionally, melatonin may relate to the function o f the immune system, hormone-responsive tumor growth, circadian rhythm disturbances, and a number of other processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78284-7762, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter