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The effect of clonidine and bright light on plasma melatonin
Author(s) -
Grasby P. M.,
Cowen P. J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.470030107
Subject(s) - melatonin , clonidine , endocrinology , medicine , nocturnal , agonist , plasma levels , plasma concentration , chemistry , receptor
We studied the effect of the α 2 ‐adrenoceptor agonist, clonidine, and bright artificial light (>2500 lux) on the nocturnal increase in plasma melatonin in normal subjects. Clonidine (1.5 μg/kg, intravenously) was without effect on plasma melatonin concentration. In contrast, bright light treatment abolished the increase in night‐time melatonin. Bright light is a simple and effective means of altering melatonin secretion in humans.