Arendt's book provides the best coverage ever written on melatonin and the pineal gland, covering every possible aspect of the subject. I frankly do not believe that there is any rival publication which matches the scope of this book - Peretz Lavie, Israel Institute of Technology, Israel; A book that I have read ... Read morewith pleasure, that is up-to-date and that betrays the didactic experience of the author - Wop Rietveld, Leiden University, The Netherlands; The book is an excellent reference for undergraduate students and scientists in general. It is a must for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and established investigators in this field - A B Lerner, Yale University, USA; Since the beginning of the modern era of pineal research Josephine Arendt has been a towering figure in the field. She is therefore the perfect author for an authoritative text such as this and she has done an excellent job - British Journal of Psychiatry; Any research institute dealing with psychobiology should have a copy of this book in their library. It is not only the best text available on melatonin and the pineal, it also tells the story of successful science - the step by step elucidation of highly complex relationships between changing physiological functions and the temporal environment. - British Journal of Psychiatry; Arendt's book is the first comprehensive treatment of melatonin and so is very welcome ... Melatonin and the Mammalian Pineal Gland is an extremely clear summary of the state of the field and simply hums with Arendt's own enthusiasm for what has yet to be discovered ... Lerner, now long since retired from Yale, has written a brief forward. I can do no more than repeat his first sentence: `A wonderful book - comprehensive, up to date and beautifully written.' - Specialist Book Section, New Scientist; This book presents an overview of the role of the pineal gland and its hormone, melatonin, in biological rhythms, seasonal affective disordersin man, reproduction in seasonally breeding animal, etc., and the effects on these systems. Its 9 chapters cover (1) an introduction to melatonin and the mammalian pineal gland, (2) structure of the pineal gland, (3) biochemistry of the pineal, (4) light=dark control of melatonin synthesis, (5) role of the pineal in photoperiodic seasonal functions, (6) role of the pineal and melatonin in circadian rhythms, (7) human physiology and pathology of the pineal, (8) therapeutic potential of melatonin, and its significance for human health, and (9) target sites and mechanism of action of melatonin. There is a glossary of terms used in chronbiology, and a subject index - CAB Abstracts Show Less