title: Circadian hormonal rhythms in two new cases of fatal familial insomnia.
abstract: We used a chronobiological inferential statistical method to investigate circadian rhythms of hypophyseal hormones, cortisol, melatonin and catecholamines in two females of the same family affected by fatal familial insomnia. Case 1 (confirmed at autopsy) presented an absent or progressive loss of circadian rhythms of all hormones. In case 2 there was a loss of GH circadian rhythm and a less significant rhythm for melatonin, catecholamines and gonadotropins. These results confirm the role of the thalamus in regulating hormonal circadian rhythm.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Avoni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cortelli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montagna
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tinuper
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sforza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Contin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parchi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pierangeli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maltoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000235:genetics*; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D004402:Dysautonomia, Familial / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005799:Genes, Dominant / Q000235:genetics*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones