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Hormone

Melatonin and human reproduction: Shedding light on the darkness hormone

, , , , &
Pages 779-785
Received 24 Apr 2009
Accepted 22 Jun 2009
Published online: 12 Nov 2009

Melatonin, N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, is a molecule with diverse physiological functions. This neuro-hormone affects reproductive performance in a wide variety of species. In most animals, but not exclusively all, melatonin has an antigonadotrophic effect. The seasonal changes in the number of hours per day that melatonin is secreted mediate the temporal coupling of reproductive activity to seasonal changes in day-length. These observations stimulated a search for a role for the pineal gland and melatonin in human reproduction. Clinical experience related to this issue has yielded inconclusive and sometimes conflicting results. This article reviews the current available evidence concerning the effects of melatonin on human reproductive processes (e.g., puberty, ovulation, pregnancy, and fertility). Possible reasons for the vagueness and elusiveness of the clinical effects are discussed.

Acknowledgement

We thank Puan Rosnida Said of the Department of Physiology, University Sains Malaysia, for assisting with the literature search.

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