Influence of chronic melatonin implantation on circulating levels of catecholamines, growth hormone, thyroid hormones, glucose, and free fatty acids in the pigeon.

Subcutaneous implantation of melatonin pellets (2 mg melatonin + 30 mg beeswax) for a period of 12 weeks, with reinforcement of implants every 2 weeks, caused significant increases in plasma levels of glucose and growth hormone (GH). Plasma levels of thyroxine (T4) were lower and the triiodothyronine (T3)/T4 ratio was higher in the melatonin-treated pigeons. However, melatonin treatment produced no significant effect on plasma levels of free fatty acids (FFA), T3, epinephrine (E), and norepinephrine (NE), although trends (P greater than 0.05) toward slight increases in FFA and T3 and decreases in E and NE were apparent. Since melatonin treatment caused increases in the levels of plasma glucose and GH and not in those of the other substances measured, it is suggested that melatonin enhances carbohydrate metabolism in preference to lipid metabolism in resting pigeons during the day (photophase) when pineal and circulating levels of melatonin are normally lower than during night (scotophase).