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Diurnal variation in blood melatonin levels and renal melatonin excretion was monitored in five ewes by blood sampling and quantitative urine collection at 2-h intervals. A typical secretory pattern of melatonin was seen both in blood and urine levels and in the renal excretion of melatonin. Serum melatonin levels increased from daytime values of approximately 200 pmol/l to a mean of 800 pmol/l during darkness. Urine flow rate and urine osmolality did not show any clear diurnal rhythm.

To examine whether urine flow rate affects renal melatonin excretion at night, urine was collected in three consecutive 30-min fractions, and blood was sampled in the middle of each urine collection period when the sheep were in normal water balance or after hydration. Hydration increased urine flow rate over sixfold and decreased urine osmolality well below plasma osmolality. Glomerular filtration rate, measured as creatinine clearance, did not change. Serum melatonin concentrations did not differ between hydrated and non-hydrated sheep. However, urinary melatonin excretion was 1·1 ± 0·3 (S.E.M.) pmol/min at midnight in normal water balance, and significantly higher (2·6 ± 0·4 pmol/min) in the hydrated state.

In this study, the validity of urinary melatonin determinations as an indicator of pineal function was confirmed in normal water balance. In addition, our results suggest that a high tubular fluid load during diuresis increases urinary melatonin excretion because of decreased tubular reabsorption. This means that urine flow rate should be taken into consideration in studies where urinary melatonin levels are used as an index of production of the indole by the pineal gland.

Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 138, 445–450