The mass spectrometric analysis of the urinary metabolites of melatonin and its deuterated analogues, confirming their identity asN-acetylserotonin and 6-hydroxymelatonin

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Abstract
In a recent study, we showed that melatonin could be metabolized to N-acetylserotonin and 6-hydroxymelatonin. To confirm this finding rats were adminstered three different forms of deuterated melatonin intraperitoneally. Their urines were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and the results showed, in each case, that the appropriate deuterated (or non-deuterated) metabolite had been formed. From these data it is clear that N-acetylserotonin is a urinary metabolite of melatonin.