The Pineal Gland

Pineal Gland
Physical Characteristics
Small, pine-cone-shaped gland (hence its
name)
•Reddish-gray in color
•It is larger in children, but shrinks with the
onset of puberty
•In adults, it weighs a bit more than 0.1
grams and is about 0.8 cm long
•Situated between 2 cerebral hemispheres ;
Attached to the posterior wall of the 3rd
cerebral ventricle
Suspended in a cavity of cerebrospinal fluid
Lacks a blood-brain barrier, therefore,
receives blood, oxygen, & nutrients through a
rich vascular network
Contains a large supply of adrenergic nerve
fibers
Composed of pineal oocytes (endocrine cells
with extensions that interact with the
extensions of nearby cells) and supporting
cells that resemble astrocytes
 Pineal Gland
Chemical Characteristics
•It contains a number of neuropeptides &
neurotransmitters such as somatostatin,
norepinephrine, serotonin, and histamine.
•Somatostatin is a hormone that inhibits the
secretion of several hormones, including growth
hormone, insulin, and gastrin.
•Norepinephrine is the main neurotransmitter
that regulates its melatonin secreting activity.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps
maintain a "happy feeling," and seems to help
keep our moods under control by helping with
sleep, calming anxiety, and relieving depression.
Histamine is neurotransmitter that causes
inflammation and several allergic symptoms.
However, melatonin, a derivative of tryptophan,
is the only hormone secreted by the gland.
The chemical formula of melatonin is
C13H16N2O2.
Structural Formula of melatonin
 Functions of the Pineal Gland
The major function of the pineal gland is producing
melatonin, a hormone that has several important
effects on the body.
Melatonin regulates daily body rhythms, most
importantly circadian rhythm, the wake/sleep cycle.
We feel sleepy at night because darkness stimulates
the pineal gland to produce melatonin and we feel
alert during the day because light inhibits the pineal
gland from producing melatonin.
Since the activity of the pineal gland
depends on the amount of available
energy, it is a photosensitive organ.
The abundant levels of melatonin in
children inhibit the secretion of
gonadotropins, hormones that regulate
normal growth, sexual development, and
reproductive functions, before puberty.
Therefore, they prevent the onset of
puberty before the appropriate age.
 Functions of the Pineal Gland
Melatonin levels are low in children with autism,
and as a result, about 70% of them suffer from
sleeping problems.
Studies show that low doses of melatonin can help
children with autism sleep better without giving
them any noticeable side effects.
 Functions of Melatonin
Melatonin has been found to be able to
slow the aging process.
It is a powerful antioxidant that can easily
pass through cell membranes and the
blood-brain barrier.
It is a highly effective and direct scavenger
of the very reactive and toxic free radicals.
Unlike other antioxidants, melatonin
does not undergo redox cycling. Once it
is oxidized it can never be reduced to its
former state. Therefore, it never
promotes free radical formation.
By terminally disarming the free
radicals, melatonin protects the cells’
DNA from oxidation damage
 Pineal Gland Interactions with Other
Organs
Secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland inhibits


the secretion of the Gonadotropin-releasing

hormone (GnRH) by the hypothalamus.

Secretion of melatonin also indirectly inhibits the



pituitary from secreting gonadotropins, Leutenizing

Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone
(FSH).
 Because its secretion reduces the levels of LH


in the blood, melatonin may inhibit ovulation

in women and can decrease sperm mobility
and sex drive in men.
The pineal gland also interacts with the


hypothalamus in regulating the circadian

rhythm.
Pineal Gland Diseases & Disorders
One sleep disorder is Delayed


Circadian Rhythm Disorder.

DCR constitutes a mismatch between


you external and internal clocks.

Sleep disorder in which the individual's


internal body clock is delayed with

respect to the external day/night cycle
Jet lag disorder: This syndrome is caused

by rapid travel across> 2 time zones.
Circadian rhythm sleep disorder, shift


work type (shift work disorder)

Circadian rhythm sleep disorder, altered


sleep phase types

 As a result of this disorder a person may experience the
following symptoms:
Difficulty falling and staying asleep, and or late night


insomnia.
A general lack of energy in the morning.
   

An increase of energy/mood in the evening or late at night.

Difficulty concentrating, being alert, or accomplishing tasks
Some DCR sufferers oversleep and have trouble getting up
Treatment:
 Behavior therapy such as maintaining regular sleep-wake
times, avoiding naps, engaging in a regular routine of
exercise, and avoiding caffeine, nicotine.
 Bright light therapy is used to advance or delay sleep. The
timing of this treatment is critical and requires guidance
from a sleep specialist.
 Medications such as melatonin, wake-promoting agents, and
short-term sleep aids may be used to adjust and maintain the
sleep-wake cycle to the desired schedule.
 Diseases & Disorders cont’d
Advanced Circadian Rhythm
Disorder (ACR) is the opposite of
DCRD. With ACR, your internal body
clock is running faster than a normal
circadian rhythm.
You tend to run out of energy before


their day is up. ACR compresses the

sleep portion of your daily cycle,
causing you to lose valuable sleep.
ACR sufferers often sleep less than 8


hours per night, and awaken early.

- Because your circadian rhythm is
running fast, your pineal gland releases
melatonin too soon, causing lethargy
earlier in the day.
- Then, because melatonin is released
prematurely, you are unable to maintain a
complete sleep cycle, and you wake up too
As a result of this disorder a person may experience
the following symptoms:
- Early morning awakening and/or early morning
Insomnia
- Inconsistent sleep with one or more awake periods
during the night
- Lack of energy during the day, feeling tired in the
early afternoon and/or evening
- Alertness and ability to function may also be
diminished
- Some ACR sufferers may not notice a sleep problem
but lose energy and feel tired or down in the afternoon
or evening time.
 Treatment:
 

Specialized bright light is the only effective

treatment for ACR. Bright light will inhibit
the release of melatonin for about 3 hours.
Use bright light in the late afternoon and
evening and avoid bright morning light
before 9:00 am.
 Diseases & Disorders cont’d
Precocious Puberty: An unusually early

onset of puberty beginning before age 8 for
girls and before age 9 for boys.
If left untreated, children will become able to


reproduce and will stop growing too soon.

One of the causes for precocious puberty is


having lower than normal levels of melatonin.

This is a problem because melatonin is
responsible for inhibiting the actions of the
gonadotropins.
Symptoms for girls are breast growth
and a first menstruation
Symptoms for boys enlarged testicles


and penis, facial hair, and a deepening

of the voice
Symptoms for boys AND girls are


pubic or underarm hair, rapid growth,

acne, and adult body odor
If the children’s precocious puberty is caused by

abnormally low melatonin levels, melatonin
supplements can be a very successful form of
treatment.
Treatment is very important because precocious


puberty will prevent children from reaching their full

height because they stop growing too early.
Going through puberty before anyone their age can


also have negative psychological effects on children,

including low self-esteem and depression.