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Melatonin content in the cellular fraction and medium of Tetrahymena pyriformis GL cultures was measured at different time points of light and dark exposures. Tetrahymena produced, stored and secreted immunoreactive melatonin, which in displacement and HPLC studies, behaved like synthetic melatonin. There was not a continuous secretion of melatonin produced by the cells. In contrast to this, storage of melatonin was observed, which was more expressed in dark conditions. Prolonged light exposure suppressed melatonin production and secretion alike, however it did not block it completely.
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Kőhidai et al. (2002) studied this question.
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