Pineal gland

Here is a brief information about the main subject of my investugations

The Pineal Gland

As photoneuroendocrine transducer the pineal gland modulates many of physiological systems activity according to circadian rhythms. It is a part of the system controlling adaptive reactions of organism on various conditions of environment. The pineal gland belongs to circumventricular organs having no blood-brain barrier. Consequently, this organ is highly sensitive to macromolecular biologically active substances circulating with the cerebral blood flow. Pineal indolamine and peptide hormones influence immune functions. Melatonin, in particular, increases immune memory while T-dependent antigene immunization and stimulates the antibody production. Pinealectomy or constant light regime, which suppresses pineal activity, promotes tumor processes, whereas melatonin injections resulted in the decrease of carcinogenesis. Many investigators attach too much importance to melatonin, ignoring the other pineal hormones and pineal function in the day-time. But except melatonin, the pineal gland produces the multitude of peptides. This peptides have a wide range of activity. In particular, they are able to suppress RNA synthesis in tumor cells and to selectively modulate DNA transcription.

The most interesting pineal peptides properties are:

• Normalization of general immune functions
• Supressing tumors
• Protection against stress
• Antiaging effect (Life extension)
• Circadian rhithms regulation

Intranasal injection

The unique location of the olfactory system, its chemical links both to the environment and the central nervous system turn it to a convenient pathway for the non-invasive delivery of substances to the cerebral blood flow and circumventricular organs. This pathway bases on the anatomic connection of the nasal submucosa to the subarachnoid space surrounding olfactory nerves as they penetrate the cribriform plate of the skull and enter the brain. The cribriform region has no significant barrier to cerebrospinal fluid drainage. This is the possible way for metals, dyes, viruses, peptides, proteins and narcotics to enter the brain via nasal cavity avoiding the blood-brain barrier.
Thus, this intranasal injection seems to be a perspective method for noninvasive delivery of bioactive peptides (including pineal hormones) to brain structures.