The Brain: An Endocrine Organ and Hormone Target

Science ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 186 (4169) ◽  
pp. 1137-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. Stumpf ◽  
L. D. Grant
Keyword(s):  
Endocrine Organ ◽  
The Brain

scholarly journals New Biosynthesis and Biological Actions of Avian Neurosteroids

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. JEN.S11148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazuyoshi Tsutsui ◽  
Shogo Haraguchi ◽  
Kazuhiko Inoue ◽  
Hitomi Miyabara ◽  
Takayoshi Ubuka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Locomotor Activity ◽  
De Novo ◽  
The Other ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathways ◽  
Avian Brain ◽  
Endocrine Organ ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Biological Actions ◽  
Important Site

De novo neurosteroidogenesis from cholesterol occurs in the brain of various avian species. However, the biosynthetic pathways leading to the formation of neurosteroids are still not completely elucidated. We have recently found that the avian brain produces 7α-hydroxypregnenolone, a novel bioactive neurosteroid that stimulates locomotor activity. Until recently, it was believed that neurosteroids are produced in neurons and glial cells in the central and peripheral nervous systems. However, our recent studies on birds have demonstrated that the pineal gland, an endocrine organ located close to the brain, is an important site of production of neurosteroids de novo from cholesterol. 7α-Hydroxypregnenolone is a major pineal neurosteroid that stimulates locomotor activity of juvenile birds, connecting light-induced gene expression with locomotion. The other major pineal neurosteroid allopregnanolone is involved in Purkinje cell survival during development. This paper highlights new aspects of neurosteroid synthesis and actions in birds.

scholarly journals The morphological and functional characteristics of the pineal gland

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Alexandru Gheban ◽  
Ioana Andreea Rosca ◽  
Maria Crisan
Keyword(s):  
Pineal Gland ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Endocrine Organ ◽  
Diagnostic Protocol ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Physiological Information ◽  
The Brain

Introduction. The pineal gland is a photo-neuro-endocrine organ situated inside the brain, that secretes serotonin, melatonin and N,N-dymethyltriptamine. This narrative review will address the latest information gathered on this function of the gland as well as the unknown roles it may have. The different histological and pathological findings of the pineal gland have demonstrated a role in clinical manifestations of numerous endocrine, neurological and psychiatric pathologies. Materials. For this narrative review we used the NCBI website database PubMed. The search terms were “Pineal Gland” AND/OR “histology, melatonin, DMT, pathology”. Total number of articles included were 86. Results: We have reviewed physiological information of melatonin and DMT, anatomical, histological and histopathological information on the pineal gland and its role in endocrine, neurological and psychiatric pathology. Conclusion. The role of melatonin in immunity and its potential therapeutic effects show promising potential for further research. DMT seems to have a role in psychiatric pathology and potential therapeutic effects. Proper tumoral screening and diagnostic protocol are required.

scholarly journals High membrane permeability for melatonin

2015 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haijie Yu ◽  
Eamonn J. Dickson ◽  
Seung-Ryoung Jung ◽  
Duk-Su Koh ◽  
Bertil Hille
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Permeability ◽  
Quantitative Measurement ◽  
Diffusion Theory ◽  
Cell Membrane Permeability ◽  
Membrane Diffusion ◽  
Simple Diffusion ◽  
Endocrine Organ ◽  
Patch Pipette ◽  
Experimental Approaches ◽  
The Brain

The pineal gland, an endocrine organ in the brain, synthesizes and secretes the circulating night hormone melatonin throughout the night. The literature states that this hormone is secreted by simple diffusion across the pinealocyte plasma membrane, but a direct quantitative measurement of membrane permeability has not been made. Experiments were designed to compare the cell membrane permeability to three indoleamines: melatonin and its precursors N-acetylserotonin (NAS) and serotonin (5-HT). The three experimental approaches were (1) to measure the concentration of effluxing indoleamines amperometrically in the bath while cells were being dialyzed internally by a patch pipette, (2) to measure the rise of intracellular indoleamine fluorescence as the compound was perfused in the bath, and (3) to measure the rate of quenching of intracellular fura-2 dye fluorescence as indoleamines were perfused in the bath. These measures showed that permeabilities of melatonin and NAS are high (both are uncharged molecules), whereas that for 5-HT (mostly charged) is much lower. Comparisons were made with predictions of solubility-diffusion theory and compounds of known permeability, and a diffusion model was made to simulate all of the measurements. In short, extracellular melatonin equilibrates with the cytoplasm in 3.5 s, has a membrane permeability of ∼1.7 µm/s, and could not be retained in secretory vesicles. Thus, it and NAS will be “secreted” from pineal cells by membrane diffusion. Circumstances are suggested when 5-HT and possibly catecholamines may also appear in the extracellular space passively by membrane diffusion.

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