title: Diurnal rhythms of immunoreactive melatonin in the aqueous humor and serum of male pigmented rabbits.
abstract: Using specific radioimmunoassays, melatonin was quantified in the aqueous humor and serum of male pigmented rabbits adapted to 12L:12D with lights on at 06.00 h. Melatonin concentrations in the aqueous humor at 08.00 and 16.00 h were similar (mean: 5.23 pg/ml) and significantly lower than those at 22.00 and 01.00 h (mean: 22.06 pg/ml). A parallel rhythm was also demonstrated in the serum with higher melatonin concentrations (daytime mean: 75.26 pg/ml; nighttime mean: 168.94 pg/ml). We propose that the aqueous melatonin rhythm is associated with the rhythmic change in aqueous flow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284.
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Howes
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reiter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010858:Pigmentation; D011817:Rabbits; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin