Endocrine Glands

Hypothalamus
Pituitary
Anterior lobe
Posterior lobe

Thyroid gland
Parathyroid glands
Adrenal Glands
Cortex
Medulla

Islets of Langerhans
Gonads
Ovaries
Testes

Pineal gland
Thymus
others

others

Stomach, small intestine

Heart ANP
Kidneys erythropoietin
Adipose tissue leptin
Skin cholecalciferol (vit. D precursor)
Placenta progesterone

WHAT I EXPECT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT EVERY ENDOCRINE

STRUCTURE
What is it?
What is its location (where is it)?
What is its embryological derivation?
What is its innervation?
What is its arterial supply?
What is its venous drainage? (This is particularly
important, as hormones must be placed into the
circulatory system.)
What is its function? (In other words, what do its

The Pineal Gland

Is a small pine cone-shaped endocrine gland (pea-size) located near
the center of the brain and attached to the posterior end of the roof of
the third ventricle in the brain. It is stimulated by nerves from the eyes.

Melatonin: Hormone produced by the Pineal Gland

Amine Hormone; derived from tryptophan

Regulates human sleep-wake cycles
Stimulated by darkness, inhibited by light
Suspected to affect reproductive functions
Linked to onset of puberty

SAD (Season Affective

Caused when
too much
melatonin is
produced,
especially
during the long
nights of
winter, causing
profound
depression,
oversleeping,
weight gain,
tiredness, or
sadness.
Treatment
consists of
exposure to
bright lights
for several
hours each day
to inhibit
melatonin
production.

Melatonin supplements can be taken to help combat:

Jet Lag
Insomnia of the elderly
Various Sleep Disorders
and more

Steady exposure to light can disrupt the natural production of melatonin

and disrupt the bodys biological clock and cause sleeping problems.

Quiz
1) Where is melatonin produced?

-the pineal gland

2) What stimulates the Pineal Gland? darkness/night

3) What type of hormone is Melatonin? amine hormone
4) What does Melatonin regulate? -the sleep-wake cycle/ biological clock
5) What disorder is caused by too much melatonin? -seasonal affective disorder

Pineal gland
Suspended in third ventricle from
diencephalon
Melatonin
? Inhibits early puberty
? Day/night cycles
Timing of sleep, body temperature, appetite

Anatomy of the Pineal Gland

The pineal gland is a small organ shaped like a ______ (hence its
name). It is located on the midline, attached to the posterior end of
the roof of the third ventricle in the brain. The pineal varies in size
among species; in humans it is roughly 1 cm in length, whereas in
dogs it is only 1 mm long. To observe the pineal, reflect the cerebral
hemispheres laterally and look for a small grayish bump in front of
the cerebellum. The images below shows the pineal gland of a horse in relation to the brain.

PINEAL GLAND
Location and Development: outgrowth of the roof
of the diencephalon. Found near the posterior
margin of the corpus callosum, slightly cranial
and superior to cerebellum.
Innervation: (Already) Part of brain.
Arterial Supply: circulosus artriosus cerebri
Venous Drainage: cavernous venous sinus
Function: MELATONIN amino acid derivative
thought to have connection with regulating sleep

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 (about 180mg). 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 , it Lacks a bloodbrain barrier, therefore, receives blood, oxygen, &
nutrients through a rich vascular network.
Contains a large supply of adrenergic nerve fibers
Composed of pinealocytes (endocrine cells with extensions that
interact with the extensions of nearby cells) and supporting cells
that resemble astrocytes.

Pineal Gland:
Characteristics
It is developed from epithelial tissue
The soft tissue of the adult pineal gland
contains more fluoride than any other soft
tissue in the body - a level of fluoride
capable of inhibiting enzymes.
The pineal gland also contains hard
tissue(hyroxyapatite crystals), which
accumulates more fluoride than any other
hard tissue in the body (ex. teeth and bone)
Studies show that fluoride reduces the
levels of melatonin in the blood

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.

 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.
Studies show that melatonin levels may be related to the risk of certain
types of cancer.
Melatonin levels tend to be lower in women with breast cancer than in those
without the disease.
Laboratory experiments show that low levels of melatonin stimulate the
growth of certain types of breast cancer cells. However, adding melatonin to
these cells slows their growth.
New research also suggests that melatonin may strengthen the effects of
some chemotherapy drugs used to treat breast cancer.
In one study, several women with breast cancer were given melatonin 7 days
before beginning chemotherapy. The melatonin prevented the lowering of
platelets in the blood, a common complication that can cause bleeding.

In another study, several women with breast cancer were taking tamoxifen, but were not
improving. However, once melatonin was added, the tumors in over 28% of the women
modestly shrank.

Studies also show that melatonin levels are lower in men with prostate cancer than in
those without the disease.
In test tube studies, melatonin blocks the growth of prostate cancer cells.

In one small-scale study, melatonin, along with improved regular medical treatment,
improved survival rates in 9 out of 14 men with metastatic prostate cancer.
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 bloodbrain 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.

 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.
20

Pineal Gland: Interactions with Other

Organs

Secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland inhibits the secretion of the

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by the hypothalaus.

Secretion of melatonin also indirectly inhibits the pituitary from secreting

gonadotropins, Leutenizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle Stimulating Hormone
(FSH), because the secretion of GnRH is necessary for this to occur.

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.