Melatonin and 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate excretion is inversely correlated with gonadal development in children.
To delineate the development of melatonin (MLT) production during childhood, we measured the excretion of MLT and 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (MLTS) in the urine of children (n = 134) from the 26th week of gestation until the age of 20 years. MLTS excretion showed a diphasic pattern with declining values in preterm babies with lowest values around term. After birth, the values remained low for the first 6 months of life. The highest values were reached between 4 and 7 years of age with a smooth but steady decline thereafter. A night-day difference was not detectable before the age of 6 months; the greatest night-day variations occurred at the time of the highest MLTS excretions. The MLT values showed an identical pattern but with amounts 1,000 times smaller; the ratio of MLTS to MLT increased from 40:1 in preterm babies to 900:1 in prepubertal children. In summary, the MLT/MLTS excretion exhibits the highest activity with respect to total secretory capacities as well as night-day differences at the time of gonadal quiescence during childhood. The strong inverse correlation of MLT and MLTS excretion with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal activity points to a causal relationship between pineal gland activity and pubertal development.
Commentz
J C
JC
Universitätskinderklinik Hamburg-Eppendorf, Deutschland.
Uhlig
H
H
Henke
A
A
Hellwege
H H
HH
Willig
R P
RP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006066:Gonads / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000652:urine*; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology / Q000652:urine
C054513:6-sulfatoxymelatonin; D008550:Melatonin