Pineal gland hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis relationships.

The authors refer the results of their study in 15 healthy women in whom 24-hours serum melatonin (MT) and cortisol (F) were assayed by RIA method. Both hormones showed a clear circadian rhythm: Melatonin reached the highest values between 24.00 and 04.00 while cortisol were at the lowest values. The relationships between Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) and pineal function are analysed. A strict correlation between the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and melatonin is suggested.