Nowak R, McMillen I C, Redman J, Short R V
Department of Physiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1987 Oct;27(4):445-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.1987.tb01172.x.
Although there is a circadian rhythm in blood melatonin concentrations in humans, the problems associated with frequent blood collection limit the use of this rhythm in the investigation of the circadian system and in the diagnosis and treatment of chronobiological disorders. Therefore, to establish a convenient, non-invasive technique for monitoring melatonin circadian rhythmicity, we compared the melatonin concentrations in blood samples collected from five subjects every 2-4 h over a 26 h period, with the melatonin concentrations in saliva samples and with the total amount of 6-hydroxymelatonin sulphate excreted in the urine during 2-h periods. There was significant correlation between serum and salivary melatonin concentrations (r = 0.81, P less than 0.001), and between serum melatonin concentrations and 6-hydroxymelatonin sulphate excretion rates (r = 0.72, P less than 0.001). The results demonstrate that both salivary melatonin concentrations and urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulphate excretion rates are reliable indices of serum melatonin concentrations. These measurements, in combination with frequent sample collection, provide two convenient, non-invasive techniques for monitoring melatonin circadian rhythmicity.
尽管人类血液中褪黑素浓度存在昼夜节律，但频繁采血带来的问题限制了该节律在昼夜节律系统研究以及生物钟紊乱诊断和治疗中的应用。因此，为建立一种便捷、非侵入性的技术来监测褪黑素昼夜节律，我们比较了在26小时内每2 - 4小时从五名受试者采集的血样中的褪黑素浓度、唾液样本中的褪黑素浓度以及2小时时间段内尿液中排出的硫酸6 - 羟基褪黑素总量。血清和唾液中褪黑素浓度之间存在显著相关性（r = 0.81，P < 0.001），血清褪黑素浓度与硫酸6 - 羟基褪黑素排泄率之间也存在显著相关性（r = 0.72，P < 0.001）。结果表明，唾液中褪黑素浓度和尿液中硫酸6 - 羟基褪黑素排泄率都是血清褪黑素浓度的可靠指标。这些测量方法，结合频繁的样本采集，提供了两种便捷、非侵入性的技术来监测褪黑素昼夜节律。
