Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physiology of the Pineal Gland

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Pineal Neurosurgery

  • 353 Accesses

Abstract

The descriptions of the pineal gland go back to antiquity, but its functions in humans are little known. The PG has a principal action of secreting hormones, mainly the melatonin. Melatonin is secreted according to the presence of stimuli from the external environment through light changes. New advances in the physiology of the pineal gland are the molecular description of melatonin receptors. The physiological significance of pineal characters other than melatonin and pineal peptides has not yet been thoroughly understood.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Sugden D. Melatonin biosynthesis in the mammalian pineal gland. Experientia. 1989;45(10):922–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Arendt J. Melatonin: characteristics, concerns, and prospects. J Biol Rhythm. 2005;20(4):291–303.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Benitez-King G, Anton-Tay F. Calmodulin mediates melatonin cytoskeletal effects. Experientia. 1993;49(8):635–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Emet M, Ozcan H, Ozel L, Yayla M, Halici Z, Hacimuftuoglu A. A review of melatonin, its receptors and drugs. Eurasian J Med. 2016;48(2):135.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Pévet P. Melatonin receptors as therapeutic targets in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2016;20(10):1209–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Al-Ghoul WM, Herman MD, Dubocovich ML. Melatonin receptor subtype expression in human cerebellum. Neuroreport. 1998;9(18):4063–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bergiannaki JD, Soldatos CR, Paparrigopoulos TJ, Syrengelas M, Stefanis CN. Low and high melatonin excretors among healthy individuals. J Pineal Res. 1995;18(3):159–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. James O. In: Olcese J, editor. Melatonin after four decades. Boston, MA: Springer; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Pangerl B, Pangerl A, Reiter RJ. Circadian variations of adrenergic receptors in the mammalian pineal gland: a review. J Neural Transm. 1990;81(1):17–29.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Borjigin J, Wang MM, Snyder SH. Diurnal variation in mRNA encoding serotonin N-acetyltransferase in pineal gland. Nature. 1995;378(6559):783.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Burgess HJ, Trinder J, Kim Y, Luke D. Sleep and circadian influences on cardiac autonomic nervous system activity. Am J Phys Heart Circ Phys. 1997;273(4):H1761–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Attanasio A, Borrelli P, Gupta D. Circadian rhythms in serum melatonin from infancy to adolescence. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1985;61(2):388–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Blask DE, Lemus-Wilson AM, Wilson ST. Breast cancer: a model system for studying the neuroendocrine role of pineal melatonin in oncology. Biochem Soc Trans. 1992;20(2):309–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Reiter RJ, Rosales-Corral SA, Tan DX, Acuna-Castroviejo D, Qin L, Yang SF, Xu K. Melatonin, a full service anti-cancer agent: inhibition of initiation, progression and metastasis. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(4):843.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Haimov I, Laudon M, Zisapel N, Souroujon M, Nof D, Shlitner A, Herer P, Tzischinsky O, Lavie P. Sleep disorders and melatonin rhythms in elderly people. BMJ. 1994;309(6948):167.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Dawson D, Encel N. Melatonin and sleep in humans. J Pineal Res. 1993;15(1):1–2.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Laudon M, Frydman-Marom A. Therapeutic effects of melatonin receptor agonists on sleep and comorbid disorders. Int J Mol Sci. 2014;15(9):15924–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Berga SL, Mortola JF, Yen SS. Amplification of nocturnal melatonin secretion in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1988;66(1):242–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Arendt J, Skene DJ, Middleton B, Lockley SW, Deacon S. Efficacy of melatonin treatment in jet lag, shift work, and blindness. J Biol Rhythm. 1997;12(6):604–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Pacchierotti C, Iapichino S, Bossini L, Pieraccini F, Castrogiovanni P. Melatonin in psychiatric disorders: a review on the melatonin involvement in psychiatry. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2001;22(1):18–32.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Carlos Roberto Huembes Hospital, Managua, Nicaragua

    Alexis Rafael Narváez-Rojas

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Cartagena Neurotrauma Research Group (CIB), University of Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

    Luis R. Moscote-Salazar

  3. Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Diwaniyah, Iraq

    Ali A. Dolachee

  4. Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq

    Mohammed Ameen Alrawi

  5. College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

    Ali M. Neamah & Saja A. AlBanaa

Authors
  1. Alexis Rafael Narváez-Rojas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Luis R. Moscote-Salazar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ali A. Dolachee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohammed Ameen Alrawi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ali M. Neamah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Saja A. AlBanaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurosurgery Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq

    Samer S. Hoz

  2. University of Al-Qadisiyah, College of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Diwaniyah, Iraq

    Ali A. Dolachee

  3. Neurosurgery Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq

    Hayder R. Salih

  4. University of Louisville, Department of Neurological Surgery, Louisville, KY, USA

    Zaid S. Aljuboori

  5. South West Deanery, Department of Neurosurgery, Plymouth, UK

    Wisam D. Selbi

  6. Ludmillenstift Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery, Meppen, Germany

    Giath Al-Dayri

  7. Ludmillenstift Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery & Spine Surgery, Meppen, Germany

    Mohammed Maan Al-Salihi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Narváez-Rojas, A.R., Moscote-Salazar, L.R., Dolachee, A.A., Alrawi, M.A., Neamah, A.M., AlBanaa, S.A. (2020). Physiology of the Pineal Gland. In: Hoz, S.S., et al. Pineal Neurosurgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53191-1_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation