Abnormal melatonin response to 5-methoxypsoralen in dementia.
The authors investigated the melatonin response to 5-methoxypsoralen in 39 healthy adult and elderly subjects and in 13 demented, 13 depressed, and 13 schizophrenic inpatients. Subjects' plasma melatonin levels were evaluated before they took single, oral 40-mg doses of 5-methoxypsoralen and 3 hours afterward. The preliminary results indicate that the melatonin response of the pineal gland to 5-methoxypsoralen is reduced in demented patients compared to that in healthy elderly subjects. Depressed and schizophrenic patients had a normal melatonin response to the drug. This finding suggests that the pineal gland may be functionally impaired in dementia but not in depression.
Souêtre
E
E
Clinique de Psychiatrie et de Psychologie Médicale, Hôpital Pasteur, Nice, France.
Salvati
E
E
Krebs
B
B
Belugou
J L
JL
Darcourt
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D003704:Dementia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
D011564:Furocoumarins; D008550:Melatonin