Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Management of Insomnia01:19

Management of Insomnia

766
The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
766
Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents01:17

Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents

956
Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
956
The Pineal Gland01:02

The Pineal Gland

7.8K
The pineal gland, a diminutive endocrine structure named for its pinecone-shaped appearance, is situated atop the third ventricle within the diencephalon region of the forebrain. This gland, composed of secretory cells known as pinealocytes arranged in compact cords and clusters around dense particles of calcium salts, plays a pivotal role in hormonal regulation.
The primary secretion of the pineal gland is the hormone melatonin, derived from serotonin. The concentration of melatonin in the...
7.8K
Understanding Sleep01:11

Understanding Sleep

1.7K
Sleep, an essential biological state, involves significant reductions in physical activity, sensory awareness, and interaction with the environment. This complex physiological process is primarily regulated by specific brain regions, notably the hypothalamus and pons, which govern the sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm.
The circadian rhythm, a nearly 24-hour cycle, is deeply influenced by environmental light cues. Light exposure directly affects the hypothalamus, which in turn regulates...
1.7K
Narcolepsy01:07

Narcolepsy

878
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
878
Stages of Sleep01:22

Stages of Sleep

1.6K
Sleep progresses through distinct stages, each characterized by specific brain wave patterns and physiological responses ranging from wakefulness to stages of non-rapid eye movement, known as non-REM, to rapid eye movement, referred to as REM. Understanding these stages helps in recognizing how sleep supports various bodily and cognitive functions.
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
1.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Melatonin Targets Mitochondrial Redox Homeostasis: Optimizing the Intracellular Microenvironment.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same author

Antioxidant activity at the molecular level: exploring ways of action and computational tools to investigate them.

Chemical science·2025
Same author

Antioxidants: The Chemical Complexity Behind a Simple Word.

Accounts of chemical research·2025
Same author

Computer-aided design of caffeic acid derivatives: free radical scavenging activity and reaction force.

Journal of molecular modeling·2024
Same author

Synthesis of BODIPY-pyrrolo[3,4-<i>b</i>]pyridin-5-ones <i>via</i> Ugi-Zhu/cascade reactions and studies of fluorescence response toward viscosity.

Frontiers in chemistry·2024
Same author

Evaluating Quinolines: Molecular Dynamics Approach to Assess Their Potential as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors for Alzheimer's Disease.

Chemphyschem : a European journal of chemical physics and physical chemistry·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

24.0K

Melatonin: exceeding expectations.

Russel J Reiter1, Dun Xian Tan2, Annia Galano3

  • 1Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas; and reiter@uthscsa.edu.

Physiology (Bethesda, Md.)
|September 3, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Melatonin, a molecule regulating sleep and circadian rhythms, also protects the body from oxidative stress. Its diverse actions offer significant potential in medicine and physiology.

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System
05:59

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System

Published on: October 20, 2023

2.9K
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
08:36

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Published on: August 8, 2019

13.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 24, 2026

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice
08:45

Polygraphic Recording Procedure for Measuring Sleep in Mice

Published on: January 25, 2016

24.0K
Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System
05:59

Author Spotlight: Overcoming Challenges in Drosophila Sleep Measurement Using DAM System

Published on: October 20, 2023

2.9K
Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments
08:36

Collecting Sleep, Circadian, Fatigue, and Performance Data in Complex Operational Environments

Published on: August 8, 2019

13.3K

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Melatonin is a conserved indoleamine with diverse biological roles.
  • It mediates both receptor-dependent and receptor-independent effects.
  • Oxidative stress is implicated in various pathologies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the multifaceted actions of melatonin.
  • To highlight its protective mechanisms against oxidative stress.
  • To explore its therapeutic potential in medicine.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on melatonin's functions.
  • Analysis of receptor-mediated pathways.
  • Investigation of free radical scavenging activities.

Main Results:

  • Melatonin regulates circadian rhythms, sleep, and exhibits anti-cancer properties.
  • It acts as a potent antioxidant, detoxifying free radicals.
  • Protective effects are observed in conditions like ischemia/reperfusion and radiation exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Melatonin possesses significant receptor-dependent and independent physiological functions.
  • Its antioxidant capacity is crucial for mitigating oxidative damage.
  • Melatonin presents broad applications in physiology and medicine.