Pineal Gland & Multiple sclerosis

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The pineal gland, cataplexy, and multiple sclerosis.

Sandyk R.

NeuroCommunication Research Laboratories, Danbury, CT 06811, USA.

Since the discovery of melatonin as the principal hormone of the

pineal gland in 1963, scientists have come to recognize that

melatonin is a " master hormone " involved in the control of circadian

rhythms and other biological functions. Although little is known

about the influence of the pineal gland on motor control, important

clues may be obtained by considering the pattern of melatonin

secretion during the sleep cycles and particularly during rapid eye

movement (REM) sleep when melatonin plasma levels are at their

lowest. Since REM sleep is characterized by the occurrence of

profound atonia which results in an almost complete paralysis of

striated muscles, it is suggested that there might be a causal

relationship between inhibition of melatonin secretion during REM

sleep and the development of REM sleep atonia. This relationship is

supported by the findings that melatonin regulates the activity of

brainstem serotonin (5-HT) neurons which characteristically cease to

fire during REM sleep and which faciliate the development of REM

sleep atonia. Moreover, as the muscular atonia of REM sleep is

physiologically and pharmacologically indistinguishable from

cataplexy, it is possible that the pineal gland also influences to

the development of cataplexy. Cataplexy is an ancillary symptom of

narcolepsy and also occurs in multiple sclerosis (MS). In fact, it

is believed that several of the neurological symptoms experienced by

patients with MS such as weakness in the legs, feeling of collapsing

knees, paroxysmal sudden falling, weakness in the neck, extreme

fatigue, intermittent paresthesias, slurring of speech and

intermittent blurring of vision, which often are exacerbated by

stress and other emotional influences, may reflect the

manifestations of cataplexy. Thus, several of the clinical features

of MS may reflect a dissociated state of wakefulness and sleep and

may improve by the administration of anticataplectic drugs.

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