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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
The Pineal Gland, Via Melatonin, Protects Dna, Coordinates The Endocrine System With The Immune System And Controls The Timing Of Reproduction, Craig L. Anthony
The Pineal Gland, Via Melatonin, Protects Dna, Coordinates The Endocrine System With The Immune System And Controls The Timing Of Reproduction, Craig L. Anthony
Theses and Dissertations
The pineal gland secretes the hormone melatonin (n-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) with a circadian rhythm. This secretion's rhythm becomes disrupted with age. When melatonin secretion is decreased with advanced age, the immune, endocrine and reproductive systems fail to function optimally. Melatonin possesses lipophilic and anti-oxidant properties, providing it with access to nuclei. Melatonin protects the DNA, preventing cancerous mutation. Hippocampal degeneration and age increase and prolong the adrenocortical responses to stress. Melatonin supplementation reduces the prolonged exposure to harmful hormones.