Decreased 6-hydroxymelatonin excretion in Korsakoff's psychosis.
Mean (+/- SEM) urinary excretion rate of the major melatonin metabolite 6-hydroxymelatonin (micrograms/day) was lower in 7 (2.8 +/- 1.0) of 8 men with Korsakoff's psychosis (KP) than in 15 healthy men (11.4 +/- 1.4). Treatment with the alpha 2-noradrenergic agonist clonidine decreased daily 6-hydroxymelatonin excretion (p less than 0.02). Reduced daily excretion of 6-hydroxymelatonin in KP reflects decreased melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland, perhaps as a residual effect of lesions due to past thiamine deficiency (Wernicke's encephalopathy).
D000368:Aged; D000425:Alcohol Amnestic Disorder / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged
D008550:Melatonin; C012365:6-hydroxymelatonin