Final answer:
Melatonin is believed to inhibit sexual maturation by potentially preventing the release of gonadotropins necessary for the development of the reproductive system during puberty.
Step-by-step explanation:
In humans, melatonin produced by the pineal gland is thought to have an inhibitory effect on sexual maturation. Melatonin regulates the body's circadian rhythms, affecting various functions such as sleep-wake cycles and body temperature. In children, higher levels of melatonin may prevent the release of gonadotropins such as LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary gland, which are crucial for the onset of puberty. These gonadotropins are necessary for spermatogenesis and the secretion of sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen that drive the process of sexual maturation during puberty. Therefore, the potential effect of melatonin on sexual maturation is believed to be inhibitory, which aligns with answer choice C) It inhibits sexual maturation.