ENDOCRINE GLANDS and its HORMONES Questions & Answers 2024 A+ It is attached to the midbrain. Its secretions are controlled by nerve stimuli - ANS-Pineal gland. Main functions: Receives information about the state of the light-dark cycle from the environment and conveys this information to produce and secrete the hormone melatonin secretes __ decrease the pigmentation of the skin - ANS-melatonin Possible causes of dysfunction of pineal gland - ANS-Accidental and developmental conditions (pineal tumors, craniopharyngiomas, injuries to the gland) other term of melatonin - ANS-N-acetyl-5-hydrotryptamine Synthesized within the pinealocytes from - ANS-tryptophan It is only secreted during the dark period of the day. a marker of the phase of internal circadian clock (regulates the circadian system and sleep patterns). - ANS-melatonin. Concentration in saliva: 3x lower in plasma It is used in therapy for sleep disorders. It has cell protection and neuroprotection properties - ANS-melatonin may be secreted in other sites such as in theGIT, skin, retina, bone marrow, and placenta acting in an autocrine or paracrine good marker of melatonin secretion - ANS-6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) method of melatoin - ANS-immunoassay plasma melatonin in adults when measured w/ high specificity assay - ANS-60-70 pg/ml Factors that Influence Melatonin Plasma Level