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Melatonin concentrations in pineal organ culture are suppressed by sera from tumor‐bearing mice
Author(s) -
Leone A. M.,
Skene D.
Publication year - 1994
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.1994.tb00108.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , endocrinology , pineal gland , medicine , circadian rhythm , biology , population , organ culture , in vitro , biochemistry , environmental health
Leone AM, Skene D. Melatonin concentrations in pineal organ culture are suppressed by sera from tumor‐bearing mice. J. Pineal Res. 1994: 17: 17–19. Abstract The melatonin rhythm is significantly attenuated in a wide range of human and animal tumor types. Since surgical removal of the tumor has been shown to restore this rhythm, we hypothesized that a plasma borne tumor‐associated factor (TAMF) could be responsible. A population of mice were injected with tumor cells and sequentially killed and bled over the following 9 days, i. e., to the maximal state of tumor growth. Pooled serum from the different collection days was added to an established pineal organ culture system, and melatonin concentrations measured. A highly significant correlation between melatonin concentrations and the stage of tumor growth was seen with maximal inhibition occurring at day 9 ( P < 0. 01). These findings support our hypothesis and may help to explain the mechanism whereby melatonin rhythmicity is suppressed in cancer patients.