From:
"Jeff"
Date: 2009-08-12 18:49:15 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re:Lupron and melatonin
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
I don't think that there's conclusive evidence either way. Here is a fairly recent study that suggests melatonin may actually decrease insulin levels, which, if true, would help a ferret with insulinoma:
http://www.sciencenews.org/index/generic/activity/view/id/39146/title/Lack_of_sleep_has_ge=netic_link_with_type_2_diabetes
QUOTE FROM ARTICLE:
The scientists, including Groop, also did experiments that looked at how melatonin might directly interact with insulin-producing cells.
The melatonin receptor was thought to be primarily expressed in the brain - where the body's master clock resides. Groop and colleagues now show that insulin-producing cells, called beta-cells, in the pancreas of mice, rats and humans, also have the melatonin receptor.
The presence of the melatonin receptor on the insulin-secreting cells makes it more likely that the receptor is directly controlling the output of insulin. When scientists added melatonin to human beta-cells in the lab, insulin production went down. That melatonin and insulin are connected makes sense, because in the dead of night, when melatonin levels are high, the need for insulin should be low. Researchers don't yet know how melatonin levels are different in sleep-deprived people, and how this difference could lead to decreased insulin production.
The tie between sleep and blood sugar didn't come as a surprise to some sleep researchers. Buxton says that evidence has accumulated for years on the relationship between sleep and blood sugar levels. "However, such a direct role for melatonin was very surprising," he says
Researcher James Gangwisch of Columbia University in New York City says the identification of the melatonin receptor as an important regulator of blood sugar "fits well" with earlier studies looking at the effects of poor sleep on blood sugar levels.
END QUOTE
And here's a past post from Dr. Murray:
From: AFERRETVET@cs.com
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, February 08, 2009 3:33 PM
Hi Arlena,
This is a topic that confuses a lot of people
and even some vets. Melatonin can decrease the
cortisol level. Usually this is not a significant
decrease as was shown in the U of Wisconsin
oral melatonin study. Lowering the cortisol level
can lower the blood glucose level. However melatonin
can also lower the insulin level which raises the glucose
level, and melatonin can increase the production of
glucose (gluconeogenesis) by the liver which also
raises the glucose level. Thus the glucose level is
usually not lowered by melatonin as was shown in
the recent melatonin implant study at Colorado State.
Therefore Lucia's low glucose level is more likely from
an insulinoma (or other problem) and not from melatonin.
Hope that clears up the confusion,
Jerry Murray, DVM
END QUOTE
>From experience, I can tell you that our older girl Trinny, who has both adrenal disease (advanced) as well as insulinoma, has kept surprisingly good BG levels on small doses of daily prednisolone while also on melatonin for the past year and a half. We started out with oral melatonin, and for the last 6 months have had her on a melatonin implant. We have not had to increase her pred dosage at all in a long time, and currently it's just 0.20 ml twice daily.
Jeff
In Memory of Neo and Mr. Parker
Caring for Trinny, Morphy, Baby Girl, Luna, Dozer, and Possum the Million Dollar Ferret
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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