Episodic secretion of melatonin in pre- and postpubertal girls and boys.

The concentration of melatonin was determined in serum samples obtained at 15-min intervals during a 4-h period from seven normal girls, 9.5-16.5 yr of age, and eight normal boys, 9.0-16.8 yr of age. All samples were obtained between 0800 and 1300 h. An episodic pattern of melatonin secretion was found in all subjects. There was no significant (P greater than 0.1) difference between girls and boys as to number of episodes [3.1 +/- 0.4 (+/- SD) vs. 3.4 +/- 0.5 per 4 h), absolute melatonin increase (49.0 +/- 6.7 vs. 50.4 +/- 4.1 pg/ml), or apparent melatonin half-life (20.3 +/- 0.8 vs. 20.8 +/- 1.0 min). The mean absolute increase during secretory episodes correlated (r = 0.843; P less than 0.005) with the mean melatonin concentration per 4 h, and a significant (P less than 0.05) inverse correlation (r = -0.508) was found between the mean percent increment of the melatonin secretory episode and the mean apparent melatonin half-life. A significant correlation between melatonin secretion and previously reported (22) episodic LH secretion was not found. In girls and boys, the mean melatonin concentration increased with advancing puberty. The increase in melatonin concentration was due to an increase in the amplitude of secretory episodes. These data are consistent with an influence of gonadal function on melatonin secretion.