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Uptake of Labelled Precursors of Melatonin by the Epiphysis of Xenopus laevis

Abstract

THE hormone, melatonin, was first isolated from bovine pineal glands by Lerner et al. in 1958 (ref. 1). Its only biological activity appeared to be to cause contraction of the melanocytes in Amphibia. Since that time melatonin has been found in pineal tissue of other mammals2–4 and birds5; but there has been, as yet, no demonstration of its presence in amphibian pineal glands.

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References

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CHARLTON, H. Uptake of Labelled Precursors of Melatonin by the Epiphysis of Xenopus laevis. Nature 204, 1093–1094 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/2041093a0

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