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ARTICLE, Behavioral/Systems

Action Spectrum for Melatonin Regulation in Humans: Evidence for a Novel Circadian Photoreceptor

George C. Brainard, John P. Hanifin, Jeffrey M. Greeson, Brenda Byrne, Gena Glickman, Edward Gerner and Mark D. Rollag
Journal of Neuroscience 15 August 2001, 21 (16) 6405-6412; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-16-06405.2001
George C. Brainard
1Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
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John P. Hanifin
1Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
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Jeffrey M. Greeson
1Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
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Brenda Byrne
1Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
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Gena Glickman
1Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
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Edward Gerner
1Department of Neurology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, and
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Mark D. Rollag
2Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20814
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Abstract

The photopigment in the human eye that transduces light for circadian and neuroendocrine regulation, is unknown. The aim of this study was to establish an action spectrum for light-induced melatonin suppression that could help elucidate the ocular photoreceptor system for regulating the human pineal gland. Subjects (37 females, 35 males, mean age of 24.5 ± 0.3 years) were healthy and had normal color vision. Full-field, monochromatic light exposures took place between 2:00 and 3:30 A.M. while subjects' pupils were dilated. Blood samples collected before and after light exposures were quantified for melatonin. Each subject was tested with at least seven different irradiances of one wavelength with a minimum of 1 week between each nighttime exposure. Nighttime melatonin suppression tests (n = 627) were completed with wavelengths from 420 to 600 nm. The data were fit to eight univariant, sigmoidal fluence–response curves (R2 = 0.81–0.95). The action spectrum constructed from these data fit an opsin template (R2 = 0.91), which identifies 446–477 nm as the most potent wavelength region providing circadian input for regulating melatonin secretion. The results suggest that, in humans, a single photopigment may be primarily responsible for melatonin suppression, and its peak absorbance appears to be distinct from that of rod and cone cell photopigments for vision. The data also suggest that this new photopigment is retinaldehyde based. These findings suggest that there is a novel opsin photopigment in the human eye that mediates circadian photoreception.

  • melatonin
  • action spectrum
  • circadian
  • wavelength
  • light
  • pineal gland
  • neuroendocrine
  • photoreception
  • photopigment
  • human
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The Journal of Neuroscience: 21 (16)
Journal of Neuroscience
Vol. 21, Issue 16
15 Aug 2001
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Action Spectrum for Melatonin Regulation in Humans: Evidence for a Novel Circadian Photoreceptor
George C. Brainard, John P. Hanifin, Jeffrey M. Greeson, Brenda Byrne, Gena Glickman, Edward Gerner, Mark D. Rollag
Journal of Neuroscience 15 August 2001, 21 (16) 6405-6412; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-16-06405.2001

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Action Spectrum for Melatonin Regulation in Humans: Evidence for a Novel Circadian Photoreceptor
George C. Brainard, John P. Hanifin, Jeffrey M. Greeson, Brenda Byrne, Gena Glickman, Edward Gerner, Mark D. Rollag
Journal of Neuroscience 15 August 2001, 21 (16) 6405-6412; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.21-16-06405.2001
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Keywords

  • melatonin
  • action spectrum
  • circadian
  • wavelength
  • light
  • pineal gland
  • neuroendocrine
  • photoreception
  • photopigment
  • human

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  • Developing the family of curves for the Human Melatonin Action Spectrum
    Alan C. Haungs
    Published on: 10 December 2015
  • Published on: (10 December 2015)
    Page navigation anchor for Developing the family of curves for the Human Melatonin Action Spectrum
    Developing the family of curves for the Human Melatonin Action Spectrum
    • Alan C. Haungs, Inventor Owner

    The original experiment for plotting the melatonin action spectrum involved instantaneous purified wavelengths.

    This is not typical light that enters the eye.

    I suggest superimposing white light on top of each purified wavelength and develop the family of curves as purified colors will likely have the left most peak action wavelength, but purified color + increasing amounts of white will move the peak ac...

    Show More

    The original experiment for plotting the melatonin action spectrum involved instantaneous purified wavelengths.

    This is not typical light that enters the eye.

    I suggest superimposing white light on top of each purified wavelength and develop the family of curves as purified colors will likely have the left most peak action wavelength, but purified color + increasing amounts of white will move the peak action wavelength to the right, due to how the L and M cones constructively enhance the ipRGC signal during day- light adaptation.

    I would also hope to see such a family of curves for values of intensity that fit under the night-adaptation category.

    Such a family of curves would have utility from a circadian driver point of view when incorporating white light into the human living space, to defeat morning/mid-day SAD issues or evening circadian disruption issues.

    Conflict of Interest:

    I am an electrical engineer working on solutions to circadian disruption

    Show Less
    Competing Interests: None declared.

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