Effect of oral melatonin administration on sex hormone, prolactin, and thyroid hormone concentrations in adult dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of oral melatonin (MT) administration on serum concentrations of sex hormones, prolactin, and thyroxine in dogs.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
8 male and 8 female adult sexually intact dogs.


METHODS
5 male and 5 female dogs were treated with MT (1.0 to 1.3 mg/kg [0.45 to 0.59 mg/lb] of body weight), PO, every 12 hours for 28 days; the other 6 dogs were used as controls. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 14, and 28, and serum concentrations of estradiol-17 beta, progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-HP), dihydroepiandrostenedione sulfate (DHEAS), prolactin, and thyroxine were determined. On day 5, serum MT concentrations were measured before and periodically for up to 8 hours after MT administration in 4 treated dogs.


RESULTS
Female dogs treated with MT had significant decreases in serum estradiol, testosterone, and DHEAS concentrations between days 0 and 28. Male dogs treated with MT had significant decreases in serum estradiol and 17-HP concentrations between days 0 and 28. Serum MT concentrations increased significantly after MT administration and remained high for at least 8 hours. Prolactin and thyroxine concentrations were unaffected by treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Melatonin is well absorbed following oral administration and may alter serum sex hormone concentrations.
Ashley
P F
PF
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901, USA.
Frank
L A
LA
Schmeitzel
L P
LP
Bailey
E M
EM
Oliver
J W
JW
D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone / Q000097:blood; D000042:Absorption; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006197:Hair / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood*
D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D013739:Testosterone; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D019326:17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone; D011388:Prolactin; D008550:Melatonin; D013974:Thyroxine