Endorphine+and+melatonin

[[image:http://www.divavillage.com/images/Oct05/outstretched_arms808.jpg width="180" height="198"]]**Endorphin**
1. Gives feeling of well being 2. released by pituitary gland and hypothalamus

β-Endorphin is released into blood from the pituitary gland and into the spinal cord and brain from hypothalamic neurons. The β-endorphin that is released into the blood cannot enter the brain.. β-Endorphin is a cleavage product of pro-opiomelanocortin. The behavioural effects of β-endorphin are exerted by its actions in the brain and spinal cord, and it is the hypothalamic neurons that are the major source of β-endorphin at these sites. In situations where the level of ACTH is increased (e.g., Cushing’s Syndrome), the level of endorphins also increases slightly.

[[image:http://www.brainexplorer.org/brain-images/hypothalamus.jpg width="78" height="175"]]
Stress and pain are the two most common factors leading to the release of endorphins. Endorphins interact with the opiate receptors in the brain to reduce our perception of pain and act similarly to drugs such as morphine and codeine. In contrast to the opiate drugs, however, activation of the opiate receptors by the body's endorphins does not lead to addiction or dependence.

**Melatonin**
In humans, melatonin is produced by the pineal gland.The melatonin signal forms part of the system that regulates the sleep-wake cycle by chemically causing drowsiness and lowering the body temperature, but it is the central nervous system that controls the daily cycle in most components of the paracrine and endocrine systems rather than the melatonin signal. While it is known that melatonin interacts with the immune system the details of those interactions are unclear. There have been few trials designed to judge the effectiveness of melatonin in disease treatment. Most existing data are based on small, incomplete clinical trials. Any positive immunological effect is thought to result from melatonin acting on high affinity receptors expressed in immunocompetent cells. In preclinical studies, melatonin may enhance cytokine production, and by doing this counteract acquired immunodeficiences. Some studies also suggest that melatonin might be useful fighting infectious disease including viral, such as HIV and bacterial infections, and potentially in the treatment of cancer.