Scope of the Series

Modern physiology requires a comprehensive understanding of the integration of tissues and organs throughout the mammalian body, including the expression, structure, and function of molecular and cellular components. While a daunting task, learning is facilitated by our identification of common, effective signaling pathways employed by nature to sustain life. As a main example, the cellular interplay between intracellular Ca2 increases and changes in plasma membrane potential is integral to coordinating blood flow, governing the exocytosis of neurotransmitters and modulating genetic expression. Further, in this manner, understanding the systemic interplay between the cardiovascular and nervous systems has now become more important than ever as human populations age and mechanisms of

cellular oxidative signaling are utilized for sustaining life. Altogether, physiological research enables our identification of clear and precise points of transition from health to development of multi-morbidity during the inevitable aging process (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, age-related macular degeneration; cancer). With consideration of all organ systems (e.g., brain, heart, lung, liver; gut, kidney, eye) and the interactions thereof, this Physiology Series will address aims of resolve (1) Aging physiology and progress of chronic diseases (2) Examination of key cellular pathways as they relate to calcium, oxidative stress, and electrical signaling & (3) how changes in plasma membrane produced by lipid peroxidation products affects aging physiology.

Contents

**Section 1**

**Section 2**

*by Ioulia K. Tseti*

**Section 3**

**Section 4**

**Preface XI**

Melatonin Receptor Agonists and Antagonists **1**

**Chapter 1 3**

Insomnia Related Dysfunctions **17**

**Chapter 2 19**

**Chapter 3 37**

Antifibrilatory Potential of Melatonin **47**

**Chapter 4 49**

Controlled Release Melatonin Formulations **79**

**Chapter 5 81**

**Chapter 6 93**

Melatonin: A Review of the Latest Developments Including the Design of

Synthetic Melatonin Receptor Agonists and Antagonists

Clinical Use of Melatonin in the Treatment of Sleep Disorders

*by Andrew Tsotinis and Ioannis P. Papanastasiou*

*by Alexander Zakharov and Elena Khivintseva*

Melatonin for a Healthy Heart Rhythm

*Emiliano Raúl Diez and Esther Pueyo*

Experiments (DoE) Approach

*by Angeliki Siamidi and Yannis Dotsikas*

*by Natassa Pippa and Costas Demetzos*

The Role of the Fractal Geometry of the "Vehicle"

Melatonin as a Food Supplement for Sleep Disorders

*by Natalia Jorgelina Prado, Margarita Segovia-Roldan,* 

*Per Os* Administered Modified-Release Solid Formulations of

The Release Kinetics of Melatonin from Innovative Dosage Forms:
