Sigurdardottir Lara G, Markt Sarah C, Sigurdsson Sigurdur, Aspelund Thor, Fall Katja, Schernhammer Eva, Rider Jennifer R, Launer Lenore, Harris Tamara, Stampfer Meir J, Gudnason Vilmundur, Czeisler Charles A, Lockley Steven W, Valdimarsdottir Unnur A, Mucci Lorelei A
Icelandic Cancer Society, Reykjavik, Iceland Centre of Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
J Biol Rhythms. 2016 Oct;31(5):461-9. doi: 10.1177/0748730416656948. Epub 2016 Jul 22.
The pineal gland produces the hormone melatonin, and its volume may influence melatonin levels. We describe an innovative method for estimating pineal volume in humans and present the association of pineal parenchyma volume with levels of the primary melatonin metabolite, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin. We selected a random sample of 122 older Icelandic men nested within the AGES-Reykjavik cohort and measured their total pineal volume, their parenchyma volume, and the extent of calcification and cysts. For volume estimations we used manual segmentation of magnetic resonance images in the axial plane with simultaneous side-by-side view of the sagittal and coronal plane. We used multivariable adjusted linear regression models to estimate the association of pineal parenchyma volume and baseline characteristics, including 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels. We used logistic regression to test for differences in first morning urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels among men with or without cystic or calcified glands. The pineal glands varied in volume, shape, and composition. Cysts were present in 59% of the glands and calcifications in 21%. The mean total pineal volume measured 207 mm(3) (range 65-536 mm(3)) and parenchyma volume 178 mm(3) (range 65-503 mm(3)). In multivariable-adjusted models, pineal parenchyma volume was positively correlated with 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels (β = 0.52, p < 0.001). Levels of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin did not differ significantly by presence of cysts or calcification. By using an innovative method for pineal assessment, we found pineal parenchyma volume to be positively correlated with 6-sulfatoxymelatonin levels, in line with other recent studies.
松果体分泌褪黑素，其体积可能会影响褪黑素水平。我们描述了一种估算人体松果体体积的创新方法，并展示了松果体实质体积与主要褪黑素代谢产物6-硫酸氧褪黑素水平之间的关联。我们从AGES-雷克雅未克队列中随机抽取了122名冰岛老年男性样本，测量了他们的松果体总体积、实质体积以及钙化和囊肿的程度。对于体积估算，我们在轴向平面上手动分割磁共振图像，并同时并排查看矢状面和冠状面。我们使用多变量调整线性回归模型来估算松果体实质体积与基线特征（包括6-硫酸氧褪黑素水平）之间的关联。我们使用逻辑回归来检验有或没有囊性或钙化腺体的男性晨尿中6-硫酸氧褪黑素水平的差异。松果体在体积、形状和组成方面各不相同。59%的腺体存在囊肿，21%存在钙化。测得的松果体平均总体积为207立方毫米（范围为65 - 536立方毫米），实质体积为178立方毫米（范围为65 - 503立方毫米）。在多变量调整模型中，松果体实质体积与6-硫酸氧褪黑素水平呈正相关（β = 0.52，p < 0.001）。6-硫酸氧褪黑素水平在有囊肿或钙化的情况下无显著差异。通过使用一种创新的松果体评估方法，我们发现松果体实质体积与6-硫酸氧褪黑素水平呈正相关，这与其他近期研究一致。
