Neurosurgical Unit A, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, Department of Chronobiology, Bron, France.
Neurosci Lett. 2010 Jan 29;469(3):294-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.12.008. Epub 2009 Dec 11.
In order to determine sources and metabolism of melatonin in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), melatonin and 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6S) concentrations were measured in CSF sampled during neurosurgery in both lateral and third ventricles in patients displaying movement disorder (Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia or dyskinesia) and compared with their plasma levels. Previous determinations in nocturnal urine had showed that the patients displayed melatonin excretion in the normal range, compared with healthy controls matched according to age. A significant difference in melatonin concentration was observed between lateral and third ventricles, with the highest levels in the third ventricle (8.75+/-2.75 pg/ml vs. 3.20+/-0.33 pg/ml, p=0.01). CSF aMT6s levels were similar in both ventricles and of low magnitude, less than 5 pg/ml. They were not correlated with melatonin levels or influenced by the area of sampling. Melatonin levels were significantly higher in third ventricle than in the plasma, whereas there was no difference between plasma and lateral ventricle levels. These findings show that melatonin may enter directly the CSF through the pineal recess in humans. The physiological meaning of these data remains to be elucidated.
为了确定人脑脊液（CSF）中褪黑素的来源和代谢，我们在接受神经外科手术的患者的侧脑室和第三脑室中采集 CSF 样本，测量其中褪黑素和 6-硫酸褪黑素（aMT6S）的浓度，并将其与血浆水平进行比较。此前对夜间尿液的测定显示，与根据年龄匹配的健康对照者相比，这些患者的褪黑素排泄量在正常范围内。我们观察到侧脑室和第三脑室之间褪黑素浓度存在显著差异，第三脑室中的浓度最高（8.75+/-2.75 pg/ml 对 3.20+/-0.33 pg/ml，p=0.01）。两个脑室中的 CSF aMT6s 水平相似，且幅度较低，小于 5 pg/ml。它们与褪黑素水平不相关，也不受采样面积的影响。第三脑室中的褪黑素水平明显高于血浆，而血浆与侧脑室中的水平没有差异。这些发现表明，褪黑素可能直接通过松果体隐窝进入 CSF。这些数据的生理意义仍有待阐明。
