title: The pineal gland from development to function.
abstract: The pineal gland is a small neuroendocrine organ whose main and most conserved function is the nighttime secretion of melatonin. In lower vertebrates, the pineal gland is directly photosensitive. In contrast, in higher vertebrates, the direct photosensitivity of the pineal gland had been lost. Rather, the action of this gland as a relay between environmental light conditions and body functions involves reception of light information by the retina. In parallel to this sensory regression, the pineal gland (and its accessory organs) appears to have lost several functions in relation to light and temperature, which are important in lower vertebrate species. In humans, the functions of the pineal gland overlap with the functions of melatonin. They are extremely widespread and include general effects both on cell protection and on more precise functions, such as sleep and immunity. Recently, the role of melatonin has received a considerable amount of attention due to increased cancer risk in shift workers and the discovery that patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, autism, or depression exhibit abnormal melatonin rhythms.
authors.affiliation: Université de Toulouse, UPS, Centre de Biologie du Développement (CBD), Toulouse, France; CNRS, CBD UMR 5547, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sapède
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D008550:Melatonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008550:Melatonin
keywords: Autism; Circadian rhythms; Melatonin; Neural development; Neurodegenerative diseases; Photoreceptors; Pineal gland; Seasonal rhythms; Sensory regression; Sleep