title: Influence of dexamethasone on nocturnal melatonin production in healthy adult subjects.
abstract: There is no conclusive evidence supporting an interaction between the pineal gland and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In this study, 11 healthy adults (six women, five men; aged 18-47 years) received a placebo the first night and 1 mg dexamethasone the next night at either 1800 or 2300 h. Administration of 1 mg of dexamethasone was followed by an attenuation of the nocturnal production of melatonin in 9 of 11 subjects. A significant reduction was found between melatonin plasma levels before and after dexamethasone at 0400 h (P less than 0.01, t test for dependent groups). It is suggested that dexamethasone affects nocturnal production of melatonin by means of mechanisms within the pineal gland.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of the J.W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, FRG.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Demisch
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demisch
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nickelsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone; D008550:Melatonin; D006854:Hydrocortisone