FW: Evidence of pineal endocrine hypofunction in autistic children (abstract)

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Neuroendocrinol Lett 2000;21(1):31-34

Evidence of pineal endocrine hypofunction in autistic children.

Kulman G, Lissoni P, Rovelli F, Roselli MG, Brivio F, Sequeri P.

Division of Infant Neuropsychiatry, S.Gerardo Hospital, Monza (Milan),

Italy.

OBJECTIVE: The pineal hormone melatonin (MLT) has been proven to play a

fundamental physiological regulatory role on both biological and psychic

functions and alterations of the light/dark circadian rhythm of MLT have

been

described in several chronic immunoinflammatory diseases and in psychic

disorders. Aim of the present biological explanatory study was the

evaluation

of MLT circadian rhythm in autistic children, in order to preliminary assess

the pineal endocrine function in the autistic syndrome. METHODS: The study

included 14 children suffering from classical infantile autism, who were

investigated for the whole 24-hour circadian rhythm by collecting venous

blood samples at 4-hour intervals. Serum levels of MLT were measured by the

RIA method. The control group consisted of 20 age-matched healthy children.

RESULTS: No autistic patient showed a normal MLT circadian rhythm. Moreover,

autistic children showed significantly lower mean concentrations of MLT,

mainly during the dark phase of the day, with respect to the values observed

in the controls. CONCLUSION: The results of this preliminary study suggest

the existence of a pineal endocrine hypofunction in autistic children, whose

pathophysiological significance needs to be thoroughly investigated in

successive clinical studies.

PMID: 11455326 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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