Skene D J, Deacon S, Arendt J
School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
Acta Neurobiol Exp (Wars). 1996;56(1):359-62. doi: 10.55782/ane-1996-1139.
Following abrupt phase shifts (real or simulated time zone changes, night shift work) there is desynchronisation between the internal circadian rhythms (including melatonin) and the external environment with consequent disturbances in sleep, mood and performance. In humans the pineal hormone melatonin has phase-shifting and resynchronising properties with regard to a number of circadian rhythms. Suitably timed melatonin administration hastened adaptation to phase shift and significantly improved self-rated jet lag in large numbers of time zone travellers. Preliminary results in night shift workers showed improved daytime sleep and night-time alertness. In simulated experiments, appropriately timed melatonin improved subjective sleep, alertness and performance and facilitated the readaptation of the melatonin rhythm following a rapid 9 h advance phase shift. Melatonin has also been assessed in circadian rhythm disorders with disturbed sleep (blindness and delayed sleep phase insomnia). Compared with placebo, melatonin significantly improved sleep and synchronised the sleep wake cycle in some blind subjects. Melatonin treatment significantly advanced the sleep onset time in delayed sleep phase insomnia. Taken together these findings suggest that melatonin is of benefit in facilitating adaptation to forced phase shifts and in conditions of circadian rhythm disturbance.
在突然的相位变化（实际或模拟的时区变化、夜班工作）之后，内部昼夜节律（包括褪黑素）与外部环境之间会出现不同步，从而导致睡眠、情绪和工作表现受到干扰。在人类中，松果体激素褪黑素对于许多昼夜节律具有相位转移和重新同步的特性。在大量时区旅行者中，适时服用褪黑素可加速对相位变化的适应，并显著改善自我评定的时差反应。夜班工作者的初步结果显示，白天睡眠和夜间警觉性有所改善。在模拟实验中，适时服用褪黑素可改善主观睡眠、警觉性和工作表现，并有助于在快速提前9小时的相位变化后使褪黑素节律重新适应。褪黑素也已在伴有睡眠障碍的昼夜节律失调（失明和睡眠相位延迟失眠）中进行了评估。与安慰剂相比，褪黑素可显著改善一些失明受试者的睡眠并使睡眠-清醒周期同步。褪黑素治疗可显著提前睡眠相位延迟失眠患者的入睡时间。综合这些发现表明，褪黑素有助于促进对强制相位变化的适应以及在昼夜节律失调的情况下发挥作用。
