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Neuroendocrine Aspects Of Primary Endogenous Depression Xv. Mathematical Modeling Of Nocturnal Melatonin Secretion In Major Depressives And Normal Controls, L. Kathleen Sekula, Joseph F. Lucke, E. Kevin Heist, R. Kenneth Czambel, Robert T. Rubin

Joseph Lucke

We previously reported a trend toward a higher mean nocturnal serum melatonin (MEL) concentration, based on 30-min blood sampling over 24 h, in 23 female definite endogenous depressives compared to 23 matched normal female control subjects, and no significant difference in 15 male depressives compared to their controls (Rubin et al., 1992). In both groups of patients vs. their controls, there also were trends toward an earlier MEL rise time, by about 30 min, and a later MEL peak time, by about 90 min. Because the offset of MEL secretion was not estimated in that study, the total duration of …