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Melatonin may be synthesised in enterochromaffin cells

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Abstract

MELATONIN (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a hormone, originally isolated from the epiphysis of the bull1, which is synthesised from 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Since the main site of synthesis of 5-HT is in the enterochromaffin cells of the intestinal tract2 we investigated the possibility that melatonin is also formed there. We have found evidence in favour of this possibility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Histochemistry and Electron Microscopy, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Oncology Academy of Medical Sciences, Kashirskoye Chosse 6, Moscow, USSR

    N. T. RAIKHLIN, I. M. KVETNOY & V. N. TOLKACHEV

Authors
  1. N. T. RAIKHLIN
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  2. I. M. KVETNOY
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  3. V. N. TOLKACHEV
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RAIKHLIN, N., KVETNOY, I. & TOLKACHEV, V. Melatonin may be synthesised in enterochromaffin cells. Nature 255, 344–345 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/255344a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/255344a0

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