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Acute Pharmacology of Melatonin

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Abstract

MELATONIN (N-acetyl-O-methyl serotonin), a pineal compound discovered by Lerner1, may function as a hormone and is known to be extremely active in certain biological systems2–5. We have investigated the acute pharmacological effects of the compound with particular emphasis on the nervous and vascular systems. We find that melatonin has no acute pharmacological effects in the systems studied apart from its effect on sleep mechanisms.

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Author notes

  1. JACK BARCHAS

    Present address: Department of Psychiatry, Stanford Medical Center Palo Alto, California

  2. FRANCES DACOSTA

    Present address: Division of Pharmacology, Food and Drug Administration, Washington

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry and Experimental Therapeutics Branch, National Heart Institute, Bethesda, Maryland

    JACK BARCHAS, FRANCES DACOSTA & SYDNEY SPECTOR

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  1. JACK BARCHAS
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  2. FRANCES DACOSTA
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  3. SYDNEY SPECTOR
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BARCHAS, J., DACOSTA, F. & SPECTOR, S. Acute Pharmacology of Melatonin. Nature 214, 919–920 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/214919a0

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