title: The mass spectrometric analysis of the urinary metabolites of melatonin and its deuterated analogues, confirming their identity as N-acetylserotonin and 6-hydroxymelatonin.
abstract: In a recent study, we showed that melatonin could be metabolized to N-acetylserotonin and 6-hydroxymelatonin. To confirm this finding rats were administered three different forms of deuterated melatonin intraperitoneally. Their urines were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and the results showed, in each case, that the appropriate deuterated (or non-deuterated) metabolite had been formed. From these data it is clear that N-acetylserotonin is a urinary metabolite of melatonin.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Silman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003903:Deuterium; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006868:Hydrolysis; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D003903:Deuterium; D008550:Melatonin; C006389:N-acetylserotonin; C012365:6-hydroxymelatonin