Melatonin
The pineal body, also known as the pineal gland, is a small structure extending from the posterior border of the brain within the third ventricle and along the midline (1,2). It is not actually part of the brain, but a member of the endocrine system (1). This pea-sized, pine coned shape structure was first given attention to in 1963 when it was discovered that its chief secretion, melatonin, was involved with various organ and tissue regulation (3). Before then, the structure was only believed to be the remains of a primitive sensory system (3). Much is still unknown about this member of the endocrine system. Melatonin is the major secretory product of the pineal body although many peptide and amine secretions have been recognized coming from this structure (1). Melatonin's primary role is in the regulation of circadian rhythms, including sleep/wake cycles and core body temperature, and is sometimes called the "master hormone" because of this (3). However, it is uncertain whether it can fully regulate all human circadian rhythms (4). The chemical structure of melatonin is small and similar to that of serotonin (3). It is distributed to various organs and tissues through the circulatory system as a hormo
Oral doses of melatonin can shift the body's clock forward or backward making it a treatment for insomnia, jet lag, seasonal depression and time changes, although a possible side effect may be daytime drowsiness in a few sensitive people (3). Melatonin does have an effect on circadian rhythms by lowering core body temperature. 1 difference in the results of my data from theirs may be a result of gender difference in the subjects. 4 Fahrenheit when taking the melatonin supplement. A recent study at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans found that estrogen-receptor-positive cells grew one-fourth to one-half as fast when treated with melatonin; however, melatonin had no effect on cancers that do not contain estrogen-receptor-positive cells (3). This is because is it synthesized by photoreceptor structures in the pineal gland which receive input indirectly from visual pathways (1,5). All of these facts lead to the possibility of melatonin acting as a birth control pill.
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