Melatonin Rhythms in Human Serum

Urinary 6‐sulphatoxy Melatonin Excretion During the Human Menstrual Cycle

“…The values of 6-SM so obtained in the present study for two normal ovulating women reveal a remarkable consistency in both the amount and pattern of excretion (Figs 1 and 2, Table 1). The dramatic changes in plasma melatonin levels reported by Wetterberg et al (1976) andBirau et al (1980) cannot be substantiated.…”

“…Several recent studies, however, implicate melatonin a putative pineal hormone, in the regulation of the human menstrual cycle. These latter investigations based either on single daily measurements of plasma melatonin (Wetterberg et al, 1976;Tapp et al, 1980) or averaged daily values (Birau et al, 1980) revealed a nadir at ovulation, and in two cases (Wetterberg et al, 1976;Birau et al, 1980) exceptionally elevated values on the first day of menstruation.…”

Seasonal variation in breast cancer detection: Correlation with tumour progesterone receptor status

“…Production of this hormone has a pronounced diurnal rhythm on which is superimposed a seasonal variation (5). Melatonin acts at the hypothalamic and probably at the ovarian level to mediate the suppressive effect of short photoperiod on reproductive function (6).…”

The Use of Light in the Treatment of Depression

“…The pine al gland is known to secrete indolamine hormones and certain peptides (14,15,16,17,18). Melat onin, an indoleamine hormone synthesized from sera tonin, is secreted by the pineal glan d in a diurnal rhythm.…”