Does melatonin deficiency cause the enlarged genitalia of the fragile-X syndrome?
Melatonin profiles were studied in five males with cytogenetic and clinical features of the fragile-X syndrome including megalo-orchidia and macrogenitosomia. In comparison with age-matched normal controls, the fragile-X group showed lower melatonin values and a significant impairment of the nocturnal rise in this hormone. Melatonin deficiency may thus be responsible for some of the phenotypic features of this disorder.
D000368:Aged; D005600:Fragile X Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D010413:Penis / Q000473:pathology; D012729:Sex Chromosome Aberrations / Q000209:etiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D008550:Melatonin