Brzezinski A, Lynch H J, Seibel M M, Deng M H, Nader T M, Wurtman R J
Clinical Research Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1988 May;66(5):891-5. doi: 10.1210/jcem-66-5-891.
Plasma melatonin, PRL, and LH levels were measured in samples collected every 2 h for 24 h from 14 normally cycling women during the early follicular, periovulatory, and luteal phases of their menstrual cycles. Plasma melatonin levels also were measured in samples collected at the same interval from 7 patients with hypothalamic amenorrhea. A distinct daily rhythm in plasma melatonin was evident in all subjects, with peaks occurring around 0300 h. Each woman's rhythm was remarkably consistent throughout the menstrual cycle (in terms of the phase, amplitude, and total melatonin secreted). Plasma PRL levels also exhibited daily rhythms which did not change during the menstrual cycle; the nocturnal peak plasma PRL level tended to occur 1-2 h after that for melatonin. Among the amenorrheic women, both daytime and nighttime melatonin levels were significantly higher (P less than 0.005) than in the normal women. Their plasma PRL levels were similar to those in the normal women. We conclude that, as for PRL, the circadian rhythm of melatonin secretion does not change significantly during the normal menstrual cycle. The elevated plasma melatonin levels in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea suggest that the hormone may be involved in the neuroendocrine pathology underlying this disorder.
在14名月经周期正常的女性月经周期的卵泡早期、排卵期和黄体期，每2小时采集一次样本，共采集24小时，检测血浆褪黑素、催乳素（PRL）和促黄体生成素（LH）水平。同时，以相同的时间间隔从7名下丘脑性闭经患者中采集样本，检测血浆褪黑素水平。所有受试者的血浆褪黑素均呈现明显的日节律，峰值出现在凌晨03:00左右。在整个月经周期中，每位女性的节律在相位、幅度和分泌的总褪黑素方面都非常一致。血浆PRL水平也呈现日节律，且在月经周期中无变化；夜间血浆PRL峰值往往在褪黑素峰值出现后1 - 2小时出现。在闭经女性中，白天和夜间的褪黑素水平均显著高于正常女性（P < 0.005）。她们的血浆PRL水平与正常女性相似。我们得出结论，与PRL一样，褪黑素分泌的昼夜节律在正常月经周期中无显著变化。下丘脑性闭经女性血浆褪黑素水平升高表明，该激素可能参与了这种疾病潜在的神经内分泌病理过程。
