| dc.description.abstract | Melatonin is produced in the pinealocytes, granulosa cells, the oocytes, and the cumulus
oophorus. The secretion of this hormone by the pineal gland is modulated by both intrinsic and
extrinsic pathways, respectively centered on the pineal synaptic ribbons (SRs) and on
environmental photic stimuli perception. As the cellular development of a mammalian embryo
advances, the intrinsic pineal SRs behaving at first like direct photoreceptors progressively develop
into cellular organelles enabling neighboring pineal cells – or pinealocytes – to modulate their
functions in a paracrine manner. Aside from this intrinsic modulation, the pineal cells are under
extrinsic control originating from the retinal photic stimuli perception, as well as being under the
circadian clock’s influence. | en_US |
