Abstract
A previous study of normal humans has shown a decrease in plasma melatonin at the onset of puberty, suggesting that melatonin may act to restrain pubertal onset. We have measured plasma melatonin throughout a 24-h period in normal and constitutionally short males at different pubertal stages and in patients with idiopathic true precocious puberty and familial male isosexual precocity. The 24-h profile of plasma melatonin was similar for the prepubertal, pubertal, and adult males studied, with all subjects having low levels (20–50 pg/ml) during the day and high levels (80–100 pg/ml) at night between 0100–0500 h. The 24-h profiles of the patients with isosexual precocity were similar to the profiles observed throughout normal puberty. These data do not support a role for melatonin in the initiation of normal or precocious puberty in man.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 307-310 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism |
Volume | 55 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1982 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Biochemistry, medical