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Baneswar, Baro
- A Study on Pineal Gland and Melatonin in Relation to 'Severe Depressive Episode'
Authors
1 Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati-32, Assam, IN
2 Dept. of Anatomy, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati-32, Assam, IN
Source
International Journal of Health Research and Medico Legal Practice, Vol 3, No 1 (2017), Pagination: 15-19Abstract
The pineal gland or epiphysis cerebri is a small grey organ occupying a depression between the superior colliculi. The importance of the pineal gland lies in its function. The gland is a neuroendocrine gland and consists of parenchymal cells, called pinealocytes and neuroglial cells. The pinealocytes secrate a hormone called melatonin. Melatonin, 5methoxy-N-acetyltryptamin, is a neurohormone of the brain produced by pineal gland. The precursor to melatonin is serotonin, a neurotransmitter that itself is derived from the amino acid tryptophan. On the other hand 'severe depressive episode' is one of the commonest problems encountered by the doctors in the tropical countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Two particularly notable features of depression is diminished nighttime release of melatonin and abnormal sensitivity to melatonin suppression. Variation of the blood melatonin level, in the patients suffering from "severe depressive episode" with the normal individuals was seen in two groups: group "A"&group "B". In group "A" (control) subjects were selected from the medical and non medical voluntaries working at Gauhati Medical College&Hospital. In the other group "B" (case) patients attending the Psychiatry 'Out Patient Department' of Gauhati Medical College&Hospital with "severe depressive episode" were taken. The data recorded was analysed statistically using Student's T-test. P value ≤ 0.05 is considered as statistically significant. Such a study may be useful in establishing a database which may be useful in treating the patients suffering from 'severe depressive episode'.Keywords
Pineal Gland, Melatonin, Depression.Full Text
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- A Study on the Size of Pineal Gland in Different Ages
Authors
1 Dept. of Anatomy, Gauhati Medical College, Guwahati-32, Assam, IN
Source
International Journal of Health Research and Medico Legal Practice, Vol 3, No 2 (2017), Pagination: 49-52Abstract
Introduction: At various times in the history of medicine the precise function of the small discrete pea-like structure we have in the centre of our brains, called the pineal gland (“corpus pineale”), was considered to be a memory valve, a valve controlling circulating vital fluids, the seat of the soul, and the site of a presumed pathology causing certain types of mental illness. In the mid nineteen fifties this confusion began to clear when the pineal gland’s true function was discovered. The gland is a neuroendocrine gland and consists of parenchymal cells, called pinealocytes and neuroglial cells. Melatonin, 5methoxy- N-acetyltryptamin, is a neurohormone of the brain produced by pineal gland. The modern systematic study of the pineal gland began in 1954. There are very few literatures where the size of the pineal gland has been described.
Material and Methods: In the present study 50 numbers of MRI cases done for various purposes, where no pathology of brain was detected were taken in the Radiology department of Gauhati Medical College after obtaining due consent. The length (Anteroposterior diameter) and breadth (Cranio-caudaldiameter) of the pineal gland was recorded. The data recorded was analysed statistically using Student’s T-test. P value d” 0.05 is considered as statistically significant.
Result: The maximum mean length of pineal gland was observed asbe 5.715±0.651 mm in the age group of ‘20 to below 40’ years.
Discussion: The findings of our study has the similar [ty with the observations made by other researchers f this field.
Conclusion: Such a study may be useful in establishing a database which may be useful in correlating the size of the gland with various brain pathology.
Keywords
Neuroendocrine Gland, Antero-Posterior Diameter, Cranio-Caudal Diameter.Full Text