Endogenous Melatonin is Not Obligatory for the Regulation of the Rat Sleep-Wake Cycle

Conclusions: Our data provide no evidence that endogenous circulating melatonin plays a role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle in rats. However, because cortical theta oscillations are generated in the CA1-3 layer of the hippocampus, neurons known to express melatonin receptors, this suggests that a lack of melatonin following pineal removal influences the function of these neurons and is consistent with previous work suggesting that endogenous melatonin is an important regulator of hippocampal physiology.
Keywords: Pinealectomy, sleep, rat, radiotelemetry, melatonin (Source: Sleep)

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