A Possible Role of the Pineal Gland in Pregnancy and Fertility

Abstract

Until little more than a decade ago no information was available on whether the pineal gland influences gestation, or vice versa, whether pregnancy may affect pineal metabolism and function. There were, however, indications suggesting pineal implications in processes connected with gestation and fertility. The rat pineal gland may be involved in the endocrine changes that take place in the perinatal period. The manner in which pineal-induced changes in the levels of circulating gonadotrophins and steroid hormones during the perinatal period affect various facets of pregnancy like duration, numbers of living fetuses and resorptions under normal conditions appears minimal. No differences reaching significance were found between the experimental and control groups in any of the aforementioned parameters. The only notable difference was in the duration of pregnancy. The role of the pineal gland in pregnancy could perhaps become more obvious should animals be exposed to conditions which drastically affect their endocrine apparatus. Under such circumstances, the pineal may be able to play the role of a moderator between abnormal environmental (or perhaps even physiological) conditions and the functions of hormones in gestation.