title: Melatonin and cortisol profiles in patients with pituitary tumors.
abstract: The optic tract section at the optic chiasm is expected to disturb the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) rhythm, circadian rhythm and melatonin secretion rhythms in humans, although detailed studies have never been conducted. The aim of this paper was to describe melatonin and cortisol profiles in patients with a pituitary tumor exerting optic chiasm compression. Six patients with pituitary tumors of different size, four of whom had significant optic chiasm compression, were examined. In each brain, MRI, an ophthalmological examination including the vision field and laboratory tests were performed. Melatonin and cortisol concentrations were measured at 22:00 h, 02:00 h, 06:00 h, and 10:00 h in patients lying in a dark, isolated room. One of the four cases with significant optic chiasm compression presented a flattened melatonin rhythm. The melatonin rhythm was also disturbed in one patient without optic chiasm compression. Larger tumors may play a role in the destruction of neurons connecting the retina with the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and breaking of basic way for inhibiting effect to the SCN from the retina.
authors: Department of Social Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland. Electronic address: daniel.zielonka@gmail.com.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Zielonka
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Sowiński
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: Stanisław
authors: S
authors: Nowak
authors: Department of Social Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Ciesielska
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: Jakub
authors: J
authors: Moskal
authors: Department of Social Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors: Jerzy T
authors: JT
authors: Marcinkowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Biological rhythm; Cortisol; Melatonin; Pituitary tumors