title: Pineal gland hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis relationships.
abstract: The authors refer the results of their study in 15 healthy women in whom 24-hours serum melatonin (MT) and cortisol (F) were assayed by RIA method. Both hormones showed a clear circadian rhythm: Melatonin reached the highest values between 24.00 and 04.00 while cortisol were at the lowest values. The relationships between Corticotropin Releasing Factor (CRF) and pineal function are analysed. A strict correlation between the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and melatonin is suggested.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin; D006854:Hydrocortisone