Pineal Glands

Introduction

The pineal gland can be introduced as a tiny gland located in the middle of the human brain between the epithalamus. The pineal gland is also termed “the third eye” in the human body. It is a pinecone-shaped gland that is majorly responsible for producing and regulating several hormones, including melatonin that is famously known for regulating sleeping patterns. This gland directly secretes hormones into the blood, which helps in the regulation of sleep patterns. 

When talking about the topics in Biology, the Pineal is an important concept that stands out from all. In case you’ve studied biology in your earlier classes, there are higher chances that you might be aware of these terms, what they do and other topics related to the same. Today, we are going to discuss pineal in detail. 

Anatomy of Pineal Glands 

The pineal gland is a small pine cone-shaped gland that nearly weighs around 0.1 grams and is 0.3 inches long. The adrenergic nerves that enter the pineal gland promote the regulation of its functions. It comprises the supporting cells along with the pinealocytes that look similar to astrocytes present in the brain. It is essential to note that the pineal glands are comparatively larger in size before puberty; however, they start to compress with time. 

Hormones Secreted by Pineal Glands 

The pineal glands majorly secret two hormones, melatonin and serotonin. As a result, these are also termed the pineal gland Hormone. Apart from this, neurosteroids are also produced by the pineal glands. Since serotonin is the precursor of melatonin, it is methylated and acetylated for yielding melatonin within the pineal gland. The secretion and synthesis of melatonin are highly affected by light exposure to the eyes. There are two different melatonin receptors that are spotted in mammals. These include Mel1A and Mel1B that are the G-protein coupled cell surface receptors.

Functions of Pineal Glands 

When it comes to producing female hormones, the pineal glands play a significant role. Also, it sometimes affects the menstrual cycle and fertility in women. According to several studies, melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland, also helps in the prevention of cardiovascular disorders such as hypertension, stroke and so on. However, more research needs to be done in order to successfully highlight several other functions of melatonin. The Pineal gland consists of portions of neurons, neuroglial cells and other cells termed pinealocytes. Apart from these, there are several other pineal gland functions that we have highlighted below. Let’s have a look-

1. Secretion of the melatonin hormone 

One primary function of the pineal gland is to secrete melatonin hormone-driven from the tryptophan, which is responsible for maintaining the circadian rhythm of the human body. The secretion of these hormones is highly determined by the amount of light the person is exposed to. When the lights are off, more melatonin hormone is produced, whereas, in the presence of light, the secretion gets limited. 

2. Cardiovascular issues 

Heart health is one of the most important factors that need to be considered despite the age factor. Pineal glands produce the melatonin hormone that leaves a positive impact on the heart as well as the blood pressure in the human body. The melatonin hormone is also used to treat several heart diseases along with the treatment of cardiovascular disorders. 

3. Female hormones and reproduction 

The anterior pituitary in women is responsible for the proper functioning and treatment of reproductive organs. The pineal gland produces the melatonin hormone that inhibits the secretion of the reproductive hormone from the anterior pituitary.

4. Mood stabilisation

Studies believe that the pineal gland indicates the risk of mood disorder. It is suggested that if the pineal gland’s size is smaller, the risk of developing mood disorders or schizophrenia increases.

5. Minimized risk of cancer 

If believed in facts, there is a connection between the pineal gland in the human body and the cancer risk. The lowering of the Pineal gland can increase the chances of developing risk. 

Disorder of Pineal Glands 

If the pineal gland stops working effectively, there is a higher risk of developing several disorders, including- 

• Disruption in sleep patterns.

• Depression

• Stomach ulcers.

• Mood swings.

• Sexual disorders

• Hormonal imbalance.

Apart from these, there are several other disorders too that are caused due to malfunctioning of the pineal gland. In case the secretion of melatonin is low, it might lead to low thyroid hormone production, anxiety, menopause symptoms and so on. In case the secretion of melatonin is high, it might lead to improper functioning of the adrenal glands and thyroid glands and low blood pressure. 

Symptoms of Disorders in Pineal glands 

As mentioned earlier, if any malfunction occurs in the overall functioning of the pineal gland, it might lead to several disorders that could possibly affect the quality of life. For example, an improper sleeping pattern can lead to conditions like insomnia or jet lag. In the case of women, it can even lead to infertility and mess up the menstrual cycle.

Due to its positioning, there are higher chances of the development of the pineal gland tumour. Some of the early symptoms of pineal gland tumour are as follows- 

• Disruptions in memory

• Vision and other sense organ damage 

• Seizures

• Headaches

• Nausea

• sleep disorder

Conclusion 

Till now, we studied everything about the pineal gland and other vital topics related to the same. Pineal gland is located in the brain and is responsible for circadian rhythms of the body. Adequate amount of light is very essential for its proper functioning. It plays a very important role in keeping the human heart healthy and is also responsible for mood swings.