help button home button Endocrine Society JCEM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Submit a related Letter to the Editor
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Copyright Permission
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Penny, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Penny, R.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 60, 751-756, Copyright © 1985 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Episodic secretion of melatonin in pre- and postpubertal girls and boys

R Penny

The concentration of melatonin was determined in serum samples obtained at 15-min intervals during a 4-h period from seven normal girls, 9.5- 16.5 yr of age, and eight normal boys, 9.0-16.8 yr of age. All samples were obtained between 0800 and 1300 h. An episodic pattern of melatonin secretion was found in all subjects. There was no significant (P greater than 0.1) difference between girls and boys as to number of episodes [3.1 +/- 0.4 (+/- SD) vs. 3.4 +/- 0.5 per 4 h), absolute melatonin increase (49.0 +/- 6.7 vs. 50.4 +/- 4.1 pg/ml), or apparent melatonin half-life (20.3 +/- 0.8 vs. 20.8 +/- 1.0 min). The mean absolute increase during secretory episodes correlated (r = 0.843; P less than 0.005) with the mean melatonin concentration per 4 h, and a significant (P less than 0.05) inverse correlation (r = -0.508) was found between the mean percent increment of the melatonin secretory episode and the mean apparent melatonin half-life. A significant correlation between melatonin secretion and previously reported (22) episodic LH secretion was not found. In girls and boys, the mean melatonin concentration increased with advancing puberty. The increase in melatonin concentration was due to an increase in the amplitude of secretory episodes. These data are consistent with an influence of gonadal function on melatonin secretion.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
A. Muñoz-Hoyos, R. Jaldo, A. Molina-Carballo, G. Escames, M. Macías, J. M. Fernández-GarcÍa, R. J. Reiter, and D. Acuña-Castroviejo
Characterization of Nocturnal Ultradian Rhythms of Melatonin in Children with Growth Hormone-Dependent and Independent Growth Delay
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2001; 86(3): 1181 - 1187.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
R. Salti, F. Galluzzi, G. Bindi, F. Perfetto, R. Tarquini, F. Halberg, and G. Cornélissen
Nocturnal Melatonin Patterns in Children
J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2000; 85(6): 2137 - 2144.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Endocrinology Endocrine Reviews J. Clin. End. & Metab.
Molecular Endocrinology Recent Prog. Horm. Res. All Endocrine Journals
Copyright © 1985 by The Endocrine Society