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Melatonin Rhythm in Human Plasma Saliva
Author(s) -
McIntyre Iain M.,
Norman Trevor R.,
Burrows Graham D.,
Armstrong Stuart M.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1987.tb00854.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , saliva , nocturnal , endocrinology , radioimmunoassay , pineal gland , medicine , circadian rhythm , darkness , biology , chemistry , botany
Human plasma saliva were collected at frequent intervals throughout the night after a nocturnal challenge by exposure to 3,000 Ix of light for 1 h in the middle of the night. Melatonin, as measured by radioimmunoassay, was found to correlate highly in plasma saliva, described by a linear regression equation: y = 55x ‐ 2.6 (r = 0.90). The nocturnal melatonin rhythm in saliva was parallel to that observed in plasma. A good correlation was also observed between plasma salivary melatonin on exposure to light. Melatonin in both fluids showed a significant fall during light exposure. Levels returned to normal nocturnal values within 2 h after returning to darkness. These results indicate that salivary melatonin, although lower than plasma melatonin, may be used as an index of pineal glrelease of melatonin. It is suggested that saliva may be useful as a non‐invasive technique for obtaining data on melatonin profiles, especially in pilot‐test screening situations.