Abstract
The day-night rhythms of serum melatonin (MEL) were investigated in 10 subjects with Turner syndrome,aged 2-17 years.Five had karyotype 45 XO,4 had 45 XO/46 XX and one 45 XO/46XX/47XXX mosaicism.Serum MEL concentrations were determined according to the RIA procedure of Rollag and Niswander,using the antibody kindly donated by Dr. Niswander.Serum LH,FSH and PRL were measured by routine RIAs.MEL patterns were abnormal in all subjects. 1.Day-time values were higher than normal (135±88 vs. 55±26,p < 0.05), as already observed in a previous study (Gupta et al, 1983).2.Night peak MEL values were in the prepubertal range irrespective of the age and developmental stage of the subject. 3.Desynchronized ultradian rhythms were present in all subjects except one,a 17-yrs. old XO/XX girl who had spontaneous menstruations. 4.No relationship between MEL serum levels and gonadotrophin concentrations were found. 5.In some of the patients the night elevation in serum PRL levels was very pronounced. These data illustrate the principle that chromosomal abnormality may be antecedent to the development of aberrations in relation to the pineal biorhythm.However,this is simply a hypothesis which should be examined further.
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Attanasio, A., Borrelli, P., Munding, G. et al. Melatonin day-night rhythms in subjects with Turner Syndrome. Pediatr Res 18, 1227 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198411000-00157
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198411000-00157