title: Circadian regulation of pineal gland rhythmicity.
abstract: The pineal gland is a neuroendocrine organ of the brain. Its main task is to synthesize and secrete melatonin, a nocturnal hormone with diverse physiological functions. This review will focus on the central and pineal mechanisms in generation of mammalian pineal rhythmicity including melatonin production. In particular, this review covers the following topics: (1) local control of serotonin and melatonin rhythms; (2) neurotransmitters involved in central control of melatonin; (3) plasticity of the neural circuit controlling melatonin production; (4) role of clock genes in melatonin formation; (5) phase control of pineal rhythmicity; (6) impact of light at night on pineal rhythms; and (7) physiological function of the pineal rhythmicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. borjigin@umich.edu
authors.forename: Jimo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borjigin
authors.forename: L Samantha
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Anda-Alexandra
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Calinescu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D056926:CLOCK Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057906:Circadian Clocks; D056931:Cryptochromes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism; D017440:Photoperiod; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056931:Cryptochromes; D012701:Serotonin; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D008550:Melatonin; C006389:N-acetylserotonin