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A review of the multifunctional hormone melatonin and a new hypothesis involving osmoregulation

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Abstract

The pineal hormone melatonin is a potentregulator of seasonal and circadian rhythms invertebrates, among them fish. Melatoninsynthesis shows a diurnal rhythm with higherlevels at night. In recent years, the pinealgland and its major product gained a number ofattributes suggesting their role in integrationof various neural and endocrine functions. Besides the well-established physiologicaleffects mediated via high-affinity cellmembrane receptors belonging to the superfamilyof G-protein – coupled receptors, melatoninreveals direct intracellular actions.

This paper attempts to synthesise thephysiological roles of this multifacetedhormone in fish. The use of higher vertebratesparadigms (considering every limit ininterpretation) was essential due to lack ofsatisfactory data on fish. The actions ofmelatonin in major organs responsible forosmoregulation in fish are discussed. Theinfluence of melatonin on water/ion excretionby affecting the circulatory blood hemodynamicand by interrelations with other hormonessystems engaged in water/ion homeostasis areconsidered. New data providing the firstevidence for the presence of melatonin bindingsites in fish gills and kidneys are presented. The paper suggests a new approach that may leadto an improved understanding of osmoregulationprocesses.

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  1. Marine Biology Center, Institute of Oceanology of Polish Academy of Sciences, sw. Wojciecha 5 Str., 81-347, Gdynia, Poland

    Ewa Kulczykowska

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Kulczykowska, E. A review of the multifunctional hormone melatonin and a new hypothesis involving osmoregulation. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 11, 321–330 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021348822635

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