FUNCTIONS OF THE PINEAL GLAND

INTRODUCTION

The pineal gland is a kind of endocrine gland found in vertebrates that produces melatonin, a hormone derived from tryptophan that regulates circadian rhythms (the roughly 24-hour cycle of biological activities associated with natural periods). In the brain, the pineal gland is a small, pea-shaped gland. Its purpose isn’t entirely clear. Some hormones, including melatonin, are produced and regulated by it, according to researchers. Melatonin is best known for its ability to regulate sleep cycles.

The pineal gland is also involved in the control of female hormone levels and has the potential to influence fertility and the menstrual cycle. 

FUNCTIONS

The generation of melatonin is the pineal gland’s most essential function. Melatonin is made from the neurotransmitter serotonin molecules. The pineal gland secretes it once it has been produced. It has significant effects on the circadian rhythm, including sleep disturbances and the possibility for seasonal reproduction in animals.

The term “circadian” comes from Latin and means “about a day.” It refers to a number of physiological processes that are connected to the timing of light and darkness. Though sleep and wakefulness are included, circadian timing is likely to include hormone release, energy utilisation to optimise metabolism, and coordination of the body’s interconnected systems.

Light that travels through the retina of the eye stimulates inherently photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, which are photosensitive receptors.  The signal is transferred from the eyes to the pineal gland from here.

Based on the quantity of light perceived by the eyes, the pineal gland can adjust its melatonin output. Because of its capacity to respond to light perception, the pineal gland has been dubbed the “third eye” of the body.

Melatonin isn’t released into a vacuum to do whatever it wants after it’s made. There is a balance that is maintained, as is true for many functions throughout the body. Homeostasis is the term for this state of equilibrium. 

Melatonin has a few more strange impacts in humans that aren’t entirely understood. Melatonin has been shown to reduce gonadotropin-releasing hormone release from the hypothalamus in animal studies. It’s possible that this has a negative impact on reproductive functioning. In animals, this may cause sperm and egg maturation to be delayed, as well as reduced reproductive organ function.

It’s believed to have an impact on some animals’ seasonal reproductive activities. Increased darkness may contribute to greater melatonin levels and lower fertility during the winter months, when evenings are longer and access to food may be limited. This may reduce the likelihood of some animal species having offsprings that do not survive the harsh winter months. The importance of this is uncertain, especially among humans.

However, supplemental melatonin (the sole unregulated hormone available for purchase over the counter in the United States) should be used with caution in pregnant women and children. The pineal gland’s secretion of melatonin may influence the timing of human sexual maturation. Puberty causes melatonin levels to drop somewhat, and pineal tumours that stop melatonin synthesis induce early puberty in young children.

Finally, the antioxidant melatonin released by the pineal gland is very effective. It has the potential to protect neurons in the central nervous system against free radicals like nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide. In active neuronal tissues, several substances are produced. Free radicals may raise the chance of tissue damage and malfunction, as well as the risk of cancer and neurological illness.

LOCATION OF PINEAL GLAND

The pineal gland is situated between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, roughly in the middle. The gland is more or less the size of a grain of rice. It’s the only part of the brain’s midline that isn’t paired. The pineal body is tucked between the two thalamic bodies in a groove.

The pineal gland is named from its shape, which is that of a pinecone. A pineal gland may be found in almost all animals. The glands have already been discovered in early lampreys. Because it helps determine sleep cycles depending on the light received in the eyes, it seems logical that the pineal gland is a primitive organ. The pineal gland has not been conserved in all animals.

The hagfish is an exception to the rule, since it lacks a visible pineal gland. Similarly, a few more evolved vertebrates have lost theirs at some point throughout their history.

CONCLUSION

The pineal gland was termed the “third eye” in the past because it was thought that it allowed you to look into multiple planes of existence. Fluoride in the water, according to modern conspiracy theories, stops pineal gland function. These statements have never been supported by current research and have been proven to be false in the majority of cases. The pineal gland, on the other hand, has been proved to have a significant part in determining our sleep cycle and alertness by scientists.

Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, which is responsible for governing sleep cycles. This hormone affects multiple cells in the brain and body to regulate our sleep and waking cycles. Melatonin has been found to play an important part in creating our circadian rhythm, which is the 24-hour cycle of our bioactivity that corresponds to the day’s solar cycle.