Biological clock

(Photo: TTO)

In high-vertebrate animals, it is conceived that the biological clock consists of three parts:

1. Retina (neural mesh in the eye) that accepts the rhythm of day and night in a light cycle for 24 hours.

2. SCR (suprachiasmatic nucleus - a neuronal structure in the brain) is considered the master clock, which signals the subjective neurological time with adjustment.

3. Pineal gland (pineal gland - called this route because of its pinecone-like fruit trait) is located between two hemispheres of the brain, producing hormone melatonin.

It can be said that melatonin (M) is the final product of the biological clock. It is synthesized from amino acid tryptophan. In the human body, M is most synthesized at night and much reduced during the day. The pineal gland of children before puberty produces many M. M inhibits gonad development.

So babies who sleep less or sleep under strong light conditions can get up early and grow up slowly. People use M to treat the syndrome of day and night arrhythmia, cure by flying over many time zones (jet - lag) and use to improve sleep for the blind. In some countries, M is widely sold and is considered a long-lasting drug.

Thanh Dat