Melatonin Synthesis Research Paper

Circadian rhythms occur every 24 hours; an example of a circadian rhythm is the sleep-waking cycle. We are diurnal animals who are active during the daytime and asleep at night, other animals are nocturnal they are active at night but asleep during the day. The circadian rhythm depends on the interaction of physiological and psychological processes to be tuned into the sleep-waking cycle so energy is provided when needed. As diurnal humans we have a fairly stable sleep pattern with the time we go to sleep and the time we wake up, this consistency suggests an internal mechanism controls sleep, endogenous pacemaker. However, this can be overridden by external factors, exogenous zeitgebers.

It helps control sleep and wake cycles. Generally, the levels of melatonin begin to rise in mid to late evening and stay high for most of the night, then fall in the early morning hours. Factors like light and age affect how much melatonin your body produces. During winter, the body could create melatonin either earlier or later

Scientists have tested and proved that teenagers need nine to ten hours of sleep each night, sadly that does not happen. Various studies from several sleep foundations have been conducted and they have found that teens do not get the amount of sleep they need. “68% of high school students sleep less than eight hours” (Bratsis). Out of all the teens in America only 14% actually gets the correct amount of sleep each night (Boergers 4). Schools are accepting these later start times to help their students with getting the sleep they need and so melatonin can not get in the way of how much sleep teens get. Melatonin is a big

There are (prescription) tablets to buy that contain melatonin, such Circadin, but melatonin tablets often go to buy prescription over the world, such

compounds promote wakefulness as well as its actions in the brain are still not well

Melatonin shows the effect on treatment of androgenic alopecia and diffuse hair loss in women by increase anagen hair rate and decrease telogen hair rate. All Participants in the study have been diagnosed as androgenic alopecia or diffuse alopecia. There are totally 20-70 years old forty women which have 12 androgenic alopecia and 28 diffuse hair lose conditions. The subjects were randomized to receive either a 0.1% melatonin-alcohol solution or alcohol solution alone by topically apply. A 1 milliliter of the formulation was applied on subjects’ scalp one time in the evening for 6 months.

Circadian rhythms are endogenous rhythms that mammals and plants exhibit. The term “circadian” was established in the 1950’s and is derived from the Latin prefix circa- which means “approximately,” and dies- which means “day.” (2) Nearly all living things have circadian rhythms that approximate to a 24 hour cycle; however there are some differences in lengths varying from species to species. (1) Numerous physiological processes are governed by the circadian rhythm, and by effect nearly every process in the body can be contributed to a rhythm of circadian fashion. The master clock of the circadian rhythm for biological processes is the suprachiasmatic nuclei, or SCN. (1)(2) The SCN is located in the anterior portion of the hypothalamus, posterior to and slightly inferior to the frontal lobe of the brain. The SCN is believed

Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland of our brain. Melatonin is responibile for our circadian rhythm (our 24-hour day cycle). Melatonin is sacreded in darkness and inhibited in the light. This is why it is important for it to be dark when one is sleeping and for it to be light in the day. The best source of light is the sun and far too often humans do not spend the recomened two plus hours in bright light each day, which can destriube the production of melatonin. This is why it is recomened that people who have disturbed sleep cycles like insomnia spend time in bright light early in the morning so that by the time night comes the production of melatonin has made them tired and they will go to sleep earlier and rise earlier.

Bright artificial lights at evenings suppress melatonin’s release, a hormone regulating sleep and circadian rhythms. Decrease in melatonin levels weakens internal clocks’ ability to prepare the body for sleep. This not only causes sleeping difficulties but also a groggy and tired feeling after waking up. Rapid-eye movement (REM) during sleep also lessens. This diminishes the brain’s ability to learn and store memories during sleep. Reduced sleep also increases risks of obesity, diabetes, depression and accidents. Greater exposure to natural light could reduce the body’s sensitivity to artificial light.

During the year 1980, Melatonin was used by many doctors in the USA in order to cure the patients who got symptom of sleepless. Thereafter there were many of research and studies had revealed other benefit of using it such as reduction of jet lag

Darkness is the trigger of the creation and secretion of melatonin and when there is light, melatonin creation levels drop extremely low and the melatonin produced is inhibited from being release. Generally for humans, melatonin increases around 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., peaking from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., however each person will have their own pattern that their body follows (Blachford & Krapp, 2010). The secretion and production of melatonin reflects a circadian

A common sleeping disorder that disrupts the circadian rhythm is the delayed sleep phase disorder. Since this disorder is common and seen in many individuals it is important for the general public to understand the severe health effects that it can have on the body. Based off of three peer reviewed, scholarly articles: “Delayed Circadian Phase is Linked to Glutamatergic Functions in Young People with Affective Disorders: A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study” 1, “Out of Synch with Society: An Update on Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder” 2, and “Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder Rise is Associated with Absenteeism and Impaired Functioning” 3, this disorder has been researched upon and tested to determine how it affects the body internally and

Its synthesis is restricted to the night and its secretion is inhibited by light. Once synthesized, melatonin acts on specific receptors within the body. Depending on the cell type, melatonin will initiate different signaling pathways. G-coupled receptors, MT(1) and MT(2), are both coupled to cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and calcium, however MT(2) is also linked to cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Interestingly, receptors for melatonin have been found in numerous peripheral tissues, in addition to receptors in the central nervous system12. Likewise, melatonin influences rhythmic release of thyroid, growth, and hypophysogonadal

In (1), Heller shows that once a person is asleep, exposure to light in repeated millisecond flashes can postpone circadian salivary activity. This implies that exposure to light might shift the entire circadian rhythm, which in turn implies that controlled exposure to light once asleep could be an effective, non-invasive treatment for patients with misaligned circadian rhythms. The control of the light exposure is essential, as Heller’s novel millisecond-based approach averted the problem run into by many previous studies on the effects of

Stern and Morgane put forward an alternative restoration theory, proposing that during sleep, the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain are restored. Again, this theory would seem plausible, in part because people who take antidepressants (these drugs help restore neurotransmitter levels) appear to need less REM sleep than normal. Evolutionary theories would perhaps seem less likely than restoration ones in terms of explaining the apparent need for sleep. According to hibernation theory (Webb, 1982), sleep has evolved to enable energy to be saved at times when being awake and active would be of little use to animals (e.g. because it is too dark for them to do anything).