[Melatonin and serotonin in inflammatory colon diseases and colorectal neoplasms]

Patients with inflammatory intestinal diseases and colorectal adenocarcinoma in sigmoid mucosa were examined using light and electron microscopy, immunohistochemical tests, radioimmunoassay and morphometry. Functional morphology of the general population of the endocrine cells and apudocytes producing melatonin and serotonin as well as urine excretion of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin changed in quality and quantity. The parameters showed specificity depending on clinicomorphological variant of colorectal pathology. The findings provide additional criteria in diagnosis and prediction of the course of different types of inflammatory and tumor affections of the colon.