Sleep and melatonin in infants : A preliminary study

摘要: Sleep-wake patterns of 20 normal, healthy infants (16 girls and four boys; age range: 26-37 weeks) were recorded for a period 1 week with miniature activity monitor. Urine samples extracted from the infants' disposable diapers that collected during 60-hour to determine levels 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s, melatonin metabolite) using radioimmunoassay test. Infants "mature" secretion (i.e. an adult-like circadian rhythm) had significantly delayed sleep-wake cycle in comparison those "immature" patterns. The onset their nocturnal-sleep episode was by almost hour (22.1 vs. 21.2 hours; p < 0.05). Higher rates aMT6s evening hours (6:00-10:00 p.m.) associated earlier nocturnal sleep (r = 0.51; A peak more fragmented night (e.g. r 0.49; 0.05; lower percent). These findings suggest plays important role evolution system.