Melatonin and Environmental Factors in the Reproductive Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles

In wild vertebrates, reproductive cycles are regulated by environmental factors such as photoperiod and temperature, both of which influence the neuroendocrine pathways of their reproductive biology. This article explores how these signals are transduced through the pineal-hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis in amphibians and reptiles, with an emphasis on the role of melatonin in the physiological responses of both males and females. The potentially paradoxical effects of melatonin on the reproductive biology of in amphibians and reptiles, compared to mammals, reveal the complexity of reproductive processes in wild vertebrates. Therefore, there is a pressing need for holistic eco-physiological studies that incorporate biochemical, neuroendocrine, and genomic approaches, among others, to enrich traditional ecological-descriptive research.

Keywords: Melatonin, Pineal, Environment, Amphibians, Reptiles, Biology, Reproduction