PINEAL GLAND

YOLANDA I ANTONIO VEGA

OVERVIEW

Also known as pineal body or epiphysis cerebri

Gland in the brain that’s located beneath the back part of the corpus callosum
It’s a part of the endocrine system and secretes the hormone melatonin
Pineal gland’s main job is to help control the circadian cycle of sleep and wakefulness

ANATOMY AND STRUCTURE

The pineal gland in humans is a small, highly vascularized, and a secretory neuroendocrine
organ.
It is located in the mid-line of the brain, outside the blood-brain barrier and attached to
the roof of the third ventricle
the main cell types are pinealocytes (95%) followed by scattered glial cells (astrocytic
and phagocytic subtypes)
Pinealocytes are responsible for the synthesis and secretion of melatonin.
The pineal gland often appears calcified in x-rays, which is usually due to fluoride,
calcium, and phosphorus deposits that build up with age.

MAIN FUNCTION OF THE PINEAL GLAND

The epiphysis cerebri is the

main producer of melatonin
and 5-methoxytryptophol

Both of these
hormones are shown
pineal gland to be
antigonadotrophic

Help modulate the

circadian rhythm of
sleep
 Serum concentrations of melatonin
are low during the daylight hours
and increase and peak during the
dark The duration of melatonin
secretion is directly proportional
to the interval of darkness

The rate-limiting step that helps This enzyme, which is needed to

this process is controlled by the synthesize melatonin from
enzyme serotonin N- serotonin, is low during daylight
acetyltransferase (NAT) hours
Light exposure
mechanism establishes the pattern
for melatonin secretion

Derived from an amino acid called

tryptophan

Serotonin is the precursor of

melatonin

In the pineal gland, serotonin Melatonin then reacts with

undergoes acetylation and then G- protein receptors to
methylation to yield the end product of implement the biological
melatonin effects that are needed

OTHER FUCTIONS

Drug Metabolism: It was demonstrated that the gland might influence the actions of
some drugs, such as antidepressants and cocaine. Melatonin also protects against
neurodegeneration.
Aging: As people age, the pineal gland tends to secret less melatonin. It is unlikely that
melatonin is the sole culprit for age-related changes, but reduced melatonin levels may
help explain the aging process. Older adults tend to sleep less and may have trouble
falling asleep. Changes in melatonin might explain this phenomenon. It can also be linked
to Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.
Mental health: Sleep deprivation can cause or worsen mental health conditions. Some
mental health disorders may also make it more difficult to sleep. Access to daylight can
also play a role in some mental health conditions. Seasonal affective disorder, for
instance, is a form of depression that affects a person’s mood and tends to occur when
light levels are low. This may be due to changes in melatonin secretion.
Bone Metabolism: In mice, melatonin helps regulate new bone deposition. Its action is
mediated through the MT2 receptors.
Pituitary Gland Regulation: It was suggested that there is an influence of the pineal gland
on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). When the pineal gland
is removed in these rodents, it was found that there was an increase in concentrations of
FSH and LH.