01:146:295 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Retinohypothalamic Tract, Cyanobacteria, Pineal Gland

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: Cell Biology and Neuroscience
• Course: 01:146:295
• Professor: J.Schjott

Document Summary

Output of scn: the neurons with their cell bodies in the scn have axons that extends to the pineal gland. The axons first extend down the spinal cord to the superior cervical ganglion then back up to the pineal gland. The pineal gland is responsible for the release of melatonin into the blood stream. Melatonin will circulate in the body cause many changes that will result in a feeling of tiredness. Clinical trial involving elderly people with insomnia and people with jetlag showed that melatonin helped. It is very important to take melatonin at the right time especially for people with jetlag, its necessary to take it when people in that region go to sleep. Some people report that melatonin does help them fall asleep while others report no major differences with insomnia. In the brain melatonin release by the pineal gland is inhibited by light. Around 7 or 8 pm when the sunsets melatonin starts to rise.