The role of the epiphysis and melatonin in the regulation of aging
How to find the path to longevity
Irina Vinogradova, Lyceum online magazineAbout the author.
Irina A. Vinogradova, Head of the Department of Pharmacology, Organization and Economics of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine of Petrozavodsk State University, Doctor of Medical Sciences, author of more than 200 scientific papers. Main research interests: experimental studies of prevention and treatment of premature aging, pharmacology of aging processes.
IntroductionHumanity has achieved a high growth in the number of elderly people in the population structure.
The average life expectancy for the second half of the XX century increased by about 20 years.
Maintaining active longevity is one of the most important tasks of preventive medicine. The UN Program for the Study of Aging in the XXI Century, approved in April 2002, pays great attention to the study of the fundamental mechanisms of aging, diseases associated with aging and factors of longevity.
Gerontology studies the mechanisms of aging and factors affecting the aging process. This term was first proposed in 1903 by our Russian scientist I.I. Mechnikov. In 1908, he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
Modern gerontology is an interdisciplinary science, which includes the biology of aging, geriatrics, gerontopsychology, and gerontohygiena.
The task of aging biology is to find out the mechanisms of aging of organisms and the factors that determine life expectancy. The biology and pharmacology of aging includes both experimental studies on animals of various species and clinical studies of people at different periods of life.
Yeast, nematodes, fruit flies, fish, mice and rats are the most commonly used models in experimental gerontology in the study of life-prolonging agents. Dogs and monkeys are successfully used, but much less often, since they live much longer than their smaller counterparts. Mammalian physiology has significant similarities with human physiology, especially on cellular damage, which allows them to be widely used for testing means that increase life expectancy and affect the development of age-related pathology.
For experimental research in laboratories, white rats are often used, which are albinos of black and gray breeds. An important advantage of white rats as laboratory animals is sufficient ease and convenience in keeping and breeding, as well as the presence of resistance to infectious diseases and a relatively short life expectancy. They are used for all kinds of scientific purposes in biology, oncology, toxicology, pharmacology, physiology, microbiology, genetics.
In accordance with the European Convention for the Protection of Animals Used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes, the maintenance of laboratory animals should be comfortable and convenient primarily for the "subjects" themselves. For rats, there is a certain temperature regime, air humidity and ventilation, a minimum cage area, feeders and drinkers for uninterrupted feed and water consumption. All experiments on laboratory animals are carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association on Humane Treatment of Animals, the principles of humanity set out in the Directive of the European Community, "Bioethical Rules for conducting research on humans and animals", "Guidelines for the experimental study of new pharmacological substances" and other applicable regulatory documents.
Gerontological studies from this point of view are the most humane, since they involve observing animals before their natural death in order to evaluate a particular remedy offered to increase life expectancy or improve its quality.
The role of the epiphysis and melatonin in the regulation of aging Currently, researchers are attracted to the epiphysis (pineal or pineal gland) and its role in animal and human physiology.
The epiphysis is connected to many organs and is the gland responsible for chronobiological regulation (perhaps the most important!). It is part of the "biological clock" system, which plays a key role in the mechanisms of "internal time counting" and aging. An important role in the regulation of biological rhythms, activity of endocrine glands, antioxidant status, metabolism, mood regulation, immunity, memory belongs to the pineal gland. Great importance is attached to the study of the epiphysis in physiological and pathological (accelerated) aging, its influence on the development of diseases (including cancer).
What does it look like, this epiphysis, which, as it turned out, is responsible for everything important in our body?
When young, it is a small oval formation located in the very center of the brain, weighing only 100-180 g. In old age, the epiphysis resembles a pine cone (hence the name – pineal gland), it is all covered with bumps and bumps – this is the deposition of "brain sand" (so the well-known phrase "Sand is pouring" is not devoid of physiological meaning). The functions of the epiphysis are provided by the synthesis of various substances in it. The main hormone of the gland is melatonin, discovered (only!) in 1958 by Aaron Lerner. Until that time, the epiphysis was considered a rudimentary gland devoid of any physiological meaning!
It is known that melatonin is synthesized from serotonin. Serotonin is produced in the epiphysis from the amino acid tryptophan. The control of the epiphysis is carried out by light mode – hormone production decreases in the light, increases at night. Light information entering the retina of the eye is transmitted to the pineal gland.
Scheme of melatonin synthesis in pinealocytes
The epiphysis has an extremely wide range of biological activity. The pineal gland participates in the regulation of circadian and seasonal rhythms, adaptation to environmental changes, reproductive function, antioxidant and antitumor protection of the body. (Circadian biorhythms have a duration of 20-28 hours, are synchronized with the rotation of the Earth and the change of day and night, persist throughout life, are controlled by an active internal "rhythm driver".)
Thus, the epiphysis is attributed to the biological clock of the body, which plays a key role in the mechanisms of aging. Iron, with the help of melatonin, participates in the organization of daily periodism and regulation of many interrelated biological processes.
The role of the light regime in the aging process
Numerous studies have shown the effect of light radiation, both natural and artificial, its duration and intensity on various biological functions of the body. Interest in this problem is associated with increased exposure to light at night. Light pollution (the lightening of the night sky by artificial light sources whose light is scattered in the lower layers of the atmosphere) is part of the modern lifestyle, accompanied by many serious behavioral and health disorders.
The light mode and the phase of the day determine the secretory activity of the epiphysis and the amount of melatonin formed. According to the circadian destruction hypothesis, exposure to light at night disrupts the daily rhythm of melatonin secretion, leading to a decrease in its concentration. Prolonged stay in conditions of disturbed circadian rhythms causes various hormonal and metabolic disorders, promotes accelerated aging of the body.
In addition to excessive artificial lighting at night, the impact of a kind of photoperiodism (the reaction of living organisms to the daily rhythm of illumination, the duration of daylight and the ratio between dark and light time of day), characteristic of the North-West of Russia, including Karelia, is of great importance. In Karelia, there are changes in natural illumination during the annual cycle, characterized by the presence of "white nights" in spring and summer and a decrease in the length of daylight in autumn and winter. It is worth noting that such a peculiar photoperiodism is characteristic not only of the North-West of Russia, but also of a large number of territories united by the general term "circumpolar regions".
The complexity of climatic and anthropogenic conditions is a factor affecting the health of the local population, leading to the development of shifts in the main physiological systems of the body and the formation of pathology. The result of living in the northern regions is a high level of morbidity of the population and, as a result, low indicators of average life expectancy compared to similar indicators in the Russian Federation.
According to statistics, in 2007 life expectancy in Karelia was 65.1 years, in 2008 – 65.5 years, in 2009 – 66.6 years. The high level of morbidity of the population, especially working people, adversely affects the economy of the region and the country. All this forces us to find and implement various methods that contribute to the preservation of human health living in the conditions of the Far North. Currently, increasing life expectancy is one of the priorities of the development of the state.
With the so-called hypopinealism (decreased activity of the pineal gland), arising both from light pollution and from our white nights, it is possible and necessary to fight. To do this, it is recommended first of all to use non–medicinal methods: in winter, during the daytime, when we have little sun, to be in natural light as much as possible, since it is the most useful, or to create an optimal artificial lighting mode for yourself, that is, to do everything to produce serotonin (and this is the "hormone of joy", as known). Then, the so-called depression of the North, arising in our dark winter days, will pass by.
Go to bed before 12 o'clock at night (and be sure to sleep at two o'clock in the morning). But this is so that melatonin, whose peak production falls just at this time, is fully produced and delays our aging. The duration of sleep should be sufficient (about 7-8 hours) – and again, so that melatonin is formed just as much as we need.
It is not recommended to turn on the light in the bedroom at night, various night lights, sleep with the light on, leave the computer and other electrical appliances running.
It is necessary to stop as much as possible the access of light from the street (lanterns, advertising, etc.) at night. It is necessary to hang blackout curtains on the windows or put a blindfold /glasses on your eyes for sleeping.
To refuse, if possible, from night work, as well as from taking medications that reduce melatonin levels at night (consult your doctor!). In the evening and at night, you should refrain from drinking caffeine, which is contained in tea, coffee, Coca-Cola; alcohol and smoking, as this also leads to a decrease in melatonin production.
It is possible in the spring and summer season, when melatonin synthesis decreases, to take vitamin and mineral complexes, including vitamin B3 and B6, calcium and magnesium - they increase its production.
At any time of the year, it is good that your diet includes such products as: bananas, turkey, chicken, cheese, nuts, seeds. They are rich in tryptophan, and it is known to be a precursor of both melatonin and serotonin.
If you follow all the recommendations outlined above, it is possible to avoid or at least slow down the decrease in the activity of our pineal gland, and therefore reduce your aging.
Be healthy!
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru21.05.2012