Human Melatonin Suppression by Light is Intensity Dependent (original) (raw)

1989, Journal of Pineal Research

Abstract

Five intensities of artificial light were examined for the effect on nocturnal melatonin concentrations. Maximum suppression of melatonin following 1 hr of light at midnight was 71%, 67%, 44%, 38%. and 16% with intensities of 3,000, 1,000, 500, 350, and 200 lux (Ix), respectively. In contrast to some previous reports, light of 1,000 Ix intensity was sufficient to suppress melatonin to near daytime levels, and intensities down to 350 Ix were shown to significantly suppress nocturnal melatonin levels below prelight values. On the basis of these data, it is suggested that when examining the melatonin sensitivity of patient groups (such as bipolar affective disorders) to artificial light, an appropriate light intensity should be established in each laboratory. Light of less intensity (eg., 200-350 Ix) may be more suitable to dichotomize patient groups from control subjects.

Loading...

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

References (29)

  1. Arendt J. (1978) Melatonin assays in body fluids. J Neural Transm. Suppl. 13:265-278.
  2. Akerstedt T., J.E. Froberg, Y. Friberg, L. Wetterberg ( 1979) Melatonin secretion, body temperature and subjective arousal during 64 hours of sleep deprivation. Psychoneuroendocrinology
  3. Bojkowski, C., M. Aldhous, J. English, C. Franey, A. Poulton, D. Skene, J. Arendt (1987) Suppression of nocturnal plasma melatonin and 6-sulphatoxy melatonin by bright and dim light in man. Horm. Metab. Res. 19:437-440.
  4. Boyce, P., D.J. Kennaway (1987) Effects of light on melatonin production. Biol. Psychiatry
  5. Fraser, S., P. Cowen, U. Franklin, C. Franey, J. Arendt (1983) A direct radioimmunoassay for melatonin. Clin. Chem. 29:396-399.
  6. Hedlund, L., M.M. Lischko, M.D. Rollag, G.D. Niswender ( 1977): Melatonin: daily cycle in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of calves. Science 195:686-687.
  7. Illnerova, H. (1986) Circadian Rhythms in the Mammalian Pineal Gland. Czechoslovakia Academy of Science, Prague.
  8. Jimerson, D.C., HJ. Lynch, R.M. Post, RJ. Wurtman, W.E. Bunny (1977) Urinary melatonin rhythms during sleep deprivation in depressed patients and normals. Life Sci. 20:1501-1508.
  9. Kennaway, D.J., R.G. Frith, G. Phillipou, C.D. Matthews, R.F. Seamark (1977) A specific radioim- munoassay for melatonin in biological tissue and fluids and its validation by gas chro- matography-mass spectrometry. Endocrinology 10:119-127.
  10. Lewy, A.J. (1983) Biochemistry and regulation of mammalian melatonin production. In: Thepineal Gland R. Relkin, ed. Elsevier Biomedical, New York, pp. 77-128.
  11. Lewy, AJ., T.A. Wehr, F.K. Goodwin, B.A. Newsome, S.P. Markey (1980) Light suppresses melatonin secretion in humans. Science 210:1267-1269.
  12. Lewy, A.J., T.A. Wehr, F.K. Goodwin, D.A. Newsome, N.E. Rosenthal (1981) Manic depressive patients may be supersensitive to light. Lancet 1:383-384.
  13. Lewy, A.J., J.I. Nurnberger, T.A. Wehr, D. Pack, L.E. Becker, R.L. Powell, D.A. Newsome (1985) Supersensitivity to light: Possible trait marker for manic depressive illness. Am. J. Psych. 142:725-727.
  14. Lynch, H.J., D.C. Jimerson, Y. Ozaki, RM. Post, W.E. Bunney, R.J. Wurtman (1977) Entrainment of rhythmic melatonin secretion in man to a 12-hour phase shift in the light dark cycle. Life Sci.
  15. Mclntyre, LM., T.R. Norman, G.D. Burrows, S.M. Armstrong ( 1987) Nocturnal melatonin rhythm in human plasma and saliva. J. Pineal Res. 4177-184.
  16. Minneman, K.P., H. Lynch, R.J. Wurtman (1974) Relationship between environmental light intensity and retina-mediated suppression of rat pineal serotonin-N-acetyltransferase. Life Sci. 15:1791-1796. 4:219-225. 22473-478. 23:1557-1564.
  17. Moore, R.Y., D.C. Klein (1974) Visual pathways and the central neural control of a circadian rhythm in pineal N-acetyltransferase activity. Brain Res. 71:17-33.
  18. Ozaki, Y., H.J. Lynch, R.J. Wurtman (1976) Melatonin in rat pineal, plasma and urine: 24-hour rhythmicity and effects of chlorpromazine. Endocrinology 981418-1424.
  19. Perlow, M.J., S.M. Reppert, L. Tamarkin, R.J. Wyatt, D.C. Klein (1980) Photic regulation of the melatonin rhythm: Monkey and man are not the same. Brain Res. 182:211-216.
  20. Perlow, MJ., S.M. Reppert, R.M. Boyan, D.C. Klein (1981) Daily rhythm in cortisol and melatonin in primate cerebiospinal fluid. Effects of constant light and dark. Neuroendocrinology
  21. Ralph, C.L., D. Mull, H J . Lynch, L. Hedlund (1971) A melatonin rhythm persists in rat pineals in Reiter, RJ. ( 1973) Comparative physiology: Pineal gland. Annu. Rev. Physiol. 35505-328.
  22. Rollag, M., G. Niswender (1976) Radioimmunoassay of serum concentrations of melatonin in sheep exposed to different lighting regimens. Endocrinology 98:482-489.
  23. Tamarkin, L., S.M. Reppert, D.C. Klein ( 1979) Regulation of pineal melatonin in the Syrian hamster. Endocrinology 104:385-389.
  24. Vaughan, G.M., R.W. Pelham, S.F. Pang, L.L. Loughlin, KM. Wilson, KL. Sardock, M.K. Vaughan, S.H. Koslow, RJ. Reiter (1976): Nocturnal elevation of plasma melatonin and urinary 5-hydroxy- indoleacetic acid in young men: Attempts at modification by brief changes in environmental lighting and sleep and by autonomic drugs. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 42:752-754.
  25. Vaughan, G.M., R. Bell, A. De La Pena (1979) Nocturnal plasma melatonin in humans: Episodic pattern and influence of light. Neurosci. Lett. 14:81-84.
  26. Weitzman, E.D., U. Weinberg, R. D'Eletto, H.J. Lynch, R.J. Wurtman, C.A. Czeisler, S. Erlich (1978) Studies of the 24 hour rhythm of melatonin in man. J. Neural Transm. Suppl. 13325-337.
  27. Wetterberg L (1978) Melatonin in humans: Physiological and clinical studies. J. Neural Transm.
  28. Wurtman, R.J., J. Axelrod, D.E. Kelly (1968) The PineuL Academic Press, New York. 32:193-196. darkness. Endocrinology 89:1361-1366.
  29. SUPPI. 13:289-310.