Bartsch C, Bartsch H, Lippert T H
Sektion für Klinische Pharmakologie in Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Universitätsfrauenklinik, Tübingen.
Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 1991 Jan;51(1):1-8. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1026323.
According to the current view, the main function of the pineal gland and its hormone melatonin is to convey information on environmental photoperiods to the endocrine, central nervous and immune systems, allowing their optimal adjustment to the time of the day and season. Within the endocrine system, the gonads are a major target; maturation of the female reproductive organs during pubertal development is inhibited by the pineal hormone. During the reproductive phase, melatonin seems to act as a coordinating signal for the menstrual cycle by timing the LH-peak and supporting progesterone production. A gradual decline of circulating melatonin with age suggests a role in age-associated endocrine changes, e.g. during menopause. Due to its important role in the female reproductive system, the pineal gland has been implicated in the aetiology of human breast cancer. Serum melatonin is depressed in patients with primary mammary cancer and experimental tumours are inhibited, a finding suggesting a therapeutic potential of melatonin. In addition, other potent antineoplastic substances exist in the pineal gland, which may become useful tools for future anti-cancer therapies.
根据目前的观点，松果体及其激素褪黑素的主要功能是将环境光周期信息传递给内分泌系统、中枢神经系统和免疫系统，使其能够根据白天和季节的时间进行最佳调节。在内分泌系统中，性腺是主要靶点；松果体激素会抑制青春期发育期间女性生殖器官的成熟。在生殖阶段，褪黑素似乎通过确定促黄体生成素峰值的时间并支持孕酮的产生，来充当月经周期的协调信号。随着年龄的增长，循环褪黑素逐渐下降，这表明其在与年龄相关的内分泌变化中发挥作用，例如在更年期期间。由于其在女性生殖系统中的重要作用，松果体被认为与人类乳腺癌的病因有关。原发性乳腺癌患者的血清褪黑素水平降低，实验性肿瘤受到抑制，这一发现表明褪黑素具有治疗潜力。此外，松果体中还存在其他有效的抗肿瘤物质，它们可能成为未来抗癌治疗的有用工具。
