Exogenous Melatonin: Its Relationship to Prolactin and Its Efficacy at Reducing or Alleviating Stress

摘要

Recently we completed a study designed to investigate the effect of melatonin administration (10 mg) at 1300 on menstrual characteristics, prolactin, and premenstrual syndrome-like symptoms during a simulated eastward deployment. Bright lights were utilized to simulate eastward movement across six time zones. During analysis of biochemical results, we made the fortuitous discovery that melatonin appears to alleviate the stress associated with the in- house simulated deployment. The study was double blind and placebo controlled. Melatonin was given to healthy females for 5 consecutive days during the late follicular and early luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Volunteers spent 24 hours in the hospital before entering the dose administration phase of the study and again on the last dose day. On those 2 days, hourly blood samples were collected from an in-dwelling catheter and were used for analysis of melatonin and prolactin. Volunteers also completed a profile of moods state questionnaire upon waking on each of 8 days which overlapped the in-house dose administration days. The placebo group showed a prolactin peak at 1300 on the last dose day/ blood draw, while the melatonin group showed a prolactin peak at 1500. It is well known that melatonin stimulates the release of prolactin, and a 2-hour delay between melatonin administration and the prolactin peak is within the normal expected delay.