Endocrine secretions under abnormal light-dark cycles and in the blind

Hormone Research
A BellastellaA A Sinisi

Abstract

Both endogenous and exogenous factors are involved in regulation of endocrine secretions. Among the exogenous ones, light plays an important role both in animals and in humans. Pineal gland mediates light action on the endocrine system, by means of variations of melatonin (MT) secretion. Here we discuss about the influence of abnormal light-dark cycles and in particular of blindness on pineal and pituitary secretions and on those of correlated glands. MT secretion is usually inhibited by light: thus it reaches the highest levels at night. Exposure to short or long photoperiod causes variations in circadian or infradian MT rhythmicity. Blind patients can show higher daytime levels with a phase-advanced or phase-delayed circadian rhythm. Lack of light stimulus affects cortisol rhythm shifting the zenith of secretion and inducing a free-running rhythm. Blindness can abolish nocturnal growth hormone (GH) peak and impair the GH response to some stimuli; moreover it impairs the growth of affected patients. Light stimulus influences favorably gonadal function both in animals and in man. In animals, sexual activity and gonadal function decline during the seasons with reduced luminosity. A similar finding has been described in women liv...Continue Reading

Citations

Mar 10, 2000·Journal of Endocrinological Investigation·A BellastellaA De Bellis
May 28, 2014·Nature Reviews. Endocrinology·Karen L GambleMartin E Young
Dec 28, 2006·Human Fertility : Journal of the British Fertility Society·Simon WoodIwan Lewis-Jones
Apr 11, 2008·Forensic Science International : Synergy·A MeinlG Watzek
Feb 7, 2017·Biology·Davide Gnocchi, Giovannella Bruscalupi
Apr 7, 2019·Journal of Molecular Medicine : Official Organ of the Gesellschaft Deutscher Naturforscher Und Ärzte·Davide GnocchiAntonio Mazzocca
Feb 13, 2001·Endocrine Reviews·E Terasawa, D L Fernandez
Aug 14, 2019·Nature Reviews. Endocrinology·Keisuke IkegamiTakashi Yoshimura
Oct 30, 2020·Cancers·Roberta MalaguarneraSalvatore Piro
Jun 3, 2021·Life·Giuseppe BellastellaAntonio Bellastella

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