Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Pineal Gland of Mammals: Some Open Morphological Questions

  • Chapter
Role of Melatonin and Pineal Peptides in Neuroimmunomodulation

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSA,volume 204))

Abstract

The pineal gland derives from the dorsal wall of the diencephalon and presents a varied structure in the different vertebrate species. In fish, amphibians and reptiles the ultrastructure of its main cell type, the pinealocyte, is similar to that of photoreceptor cells of the vertebrate retina and to the sensory organs of invertebrates that respond directly to light.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Achúcarro, N., 1913, La estructura secretora de la glândula pineal humana, Bol. Soc. Esp. Biol., 2:83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boeckman, D., 1980, Morphological investigation of the deep pineal of the rat, Cell Tissue Res., 210:283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowie, E.P., and Herbert, D.C., 1976, Immunocytochemical evidence for the presence of arginine vasotocin in the rat pineal gland, Nature(Lond.), 261:66.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cajal, S.R., 1895, Apuntes para el estudio del bulbo raSuideo, cerebelo y origen de los nervios encefalicos, Anal.Soc.Esp.Histol.Natur., 24:1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cionini, A., 1885–1889, Sulla struttura della giandola pineale, Riv.Sperim. di Freniatria e di Med. Legale, Tomes XI-XII e XIV.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cozzi, B., and Moller, M., 1988, Indications for the presence of two populations of serotonin-containing pinealocytes in the pineal complex of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), Cell Tissue Res.,252:115.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deguchi, D., and Axelrod, J., 1972, Control of circadian changes of serotonin-N-acetyltransferase activity in the pineal organ by the beta-abrenergic receptor, Porc.Nat.Acad.Sci. USA, 69:2547.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deguchi, D., and Axelrod, J., 1973, Supersensitivity and subsensitivity of the beta-adrenergic receptor in pineal gland regulated by cathecolamine transmitter, Poc.Nat.Acad.Sci. USA, 70:2411.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Del Rio-Hortega, P., 1916, Sobre la naturaleza de las células epifisarias, Bol. Soc. Esp. Biol, 5:22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, G., Alvarez-Urfa, M., and Fernandez-Ruiz, B., 1969, Ultraestructura de la glândula pineal de los mamiferos.I. Imagenes sinapticas de los pineocitos. Trab.Inst.Cajal Inv.Biol., 61:41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, G., and Alvarez-Urfa, M., 1970, Ultraestructura de la glândula pineal de los mamíferos. II. Célula intersticial, Trab.Inst.Ca4a1 Inv.Biol., 62:29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, G., and Alvarez-Uria, M., 1986, Morphometric analysis of the synaptic ribbons and nerve vesicles of the cat pineal gland after electrical stimulation of the superior cervical ganglia, J.Pineal Res., 3:8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez, G., and Alvarez-Urfa, M., 1987, Effects of superior cervical preganglionectomy on nerve vesicles and synaptic ribbons in the cat pineal gland, J.Pineal Res., 4:367.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gusek, W., Buss, H., and Wartenberg, H., 1965, Weitere untersuchungen zur feinstruktur der epiphysis cerebri normaler und vorbehandelter ratten, Prog.Brain Res., 10:317.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, S.K., Nobiling, R., Schachner, M., and Taugner, R., 1984, Interstitial and parenchymal cells in the pineal gland of the golden hamster. A combined thin-section, freeze-fracture and immunofluorescence study, Cell Tissue Res., 235:327.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karasek, M., and Vollrath, L., 1982, “Synaptic” ribbons and spherules of the rat pineal gland: day/night changes “in vitro”, Exe.Brain Res., 46:205.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karasek, M., King, T.S., Broaw, J., Hansen, J.T., Petterborg, L.J., and Reiter, R.J., 1983, Inverse correlation between “sinaptic” ribbon number and the density of adrenergic nerve endings in the pineal gland of various mamals. Anat.Rec., 205:93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King, T.S., and Dougherty, W.L., 1980, Neonatal development of circadian rhythm in “sinaptic” ribbon numbers in the rat pinealocyte, Am.J.Anat., 157:335.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King, T.S., and Dougherty, W.L., 1982a, Effect of denervation on “sinaptic” ribbon populations in the rat pineal gland, J.Neurocytol., 11:19.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King, T.S., and Dougherty, W.L., 1982b, Age-related changes in pineal “synaptic” ribbon populations in rat exposed to continuous light or darkness, Am.J.Anat., 163:169.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leonhardt, H., 1967, Uber axonahnliche fortsatze, sekretbildung und extrusion der hellen pinealozyten des kaninchens, Z.Zellforsch., 82:307.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lues, G., 1971, Die feinstruktur der zirdeldruse normaler, trachtiger und esperimentell beeinflusster meerschweinchen Z.Zellforsch., 144:30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luo, Z.R., Schultz, R.L., Whitter, E.F., and Vollrath, L., 1990, Prenatal development of “synaptic” ribbons in the Guinea pig pineal gland Am.J.Anat., 187:39.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsushima, S., and Reiter, R.J., 1975, Comparative ultrastructural studies of the pineal gland of rodents. In: Ultrastructure of endocrine and reproductive organs (M. Hess.ed.), 335–356, New York: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsushima, S., and Reiter, R.J., 1978, Electron microscopic observations on neuron-like cells in the ground squirrel pineal gland, J.Neural Trans., 42:223.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsushima, S., Saka, Y., and Hira, Y., 1989, Twenty-four-hour changes in pinealocyte capillary endothelial cells and pericapillary and intercellular spaces in the pineal gland of the mouse. Semiquantitative electron-micrsocopi observations, Cell Tissue Res., 225:323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsushima, S., Sakai, Y., and Hira, Y., 1990, Effect of photoperiod on pineal gland volume and pinealocyte size in the Chinese hamster, Cricetulus griseus, Am.J.Anat., 187:32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moller, M., Ingild, A., and Bock. E., 1978, Immunohistochemical demonstration of S-100 protein and GFA protein in intersticial cells of rat pineal gland, Brain Res., 140:1.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pévet, P., 1977, On the presence of different populations of pinealocytes in mammalian pineal gland, J.Neural Trans., 40:289.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romijn, H.J., 1976, The influence of some sympatholytic, parasympatholytic and serotonin-synthesis-inhibiting agents on the ultrastructure of the rabbit pineal organ, Cell Tissue Res., 167:167.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sacristân, J., 1921, Einige beroerkungen zur H. Josephys artikel. Die feinere Histologie der epiphyse, Zeitschr. f. d. ges. Neurol. und Psych., 69:142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schachner, M., Huang, S.K., Ziegelmuller, P., Bizzini, B., and Taugner, R., 1984, Gial cells in the pineal gland of mice and rats. A combined immunofluorescence and elctron-microscopic study, Cell Tissue Res., 237:245.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Semm, P., and Vollrath, L., 1980, Electrophysiological evidence for circadian rhythmicity in a mammalian pineal organ, J.Neural Transco., 47:181.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, M.N., and Reiter, R.J., 1973, The fine structure of the pineal gland in the pocket gopher, Geomys bursarius, Am.J.Anat., 136:363.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sthele, J., Reuss, S., and Vollrath, L., 1987, Electrophysiological characterization of the pineal gland of golden hamsters Exp.Brain Res., 67:27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taxi, J., 1965, Contribution l’ùtude des connexions des neurons moteurs du systùme nerveux autonome,Ann.Sci.Nat.Zool., 7:413.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, A., and Wilson, R., 1970, Electrophysiological evidence for the action of light on the pineal gland in the rat, Experientia, 26:267.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vollrath, L., and Howe, H., 1986, Light and drug induced changes of epiphysial synaptic ribbons, Cell Tissue Res., 165:383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vollrath, L., 1981, The Pineal Organ, A. Oksche, L. Vollrath (eds). Handb. der Mikroskopischen. Anat.des Menschen VI/7. Berlin-Heidelberg-New York-Springer-Verlag

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace, R.B., Altman, J., and Das, G.D., 1969, An autoradiographic and morphological investigation of the postnatal development of the pineal body, Am.J.Anat., 126:175.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Welsh, M.G., and Reiter, R.J., 1978, the pineal gland of the gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus. I. An ultrastructural study Cell Tissue Res., 193:323.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, D.E., 1965, The epiphyseal cell: an electron- microscopic study of its intercellular relationships and intracellular morphology in the pineal body of the albino rat Progr.Brain Res., 10:332.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wurtman, R.J., Axelrod, J., Sedvall, G., and Moore, R.J., 1967, Photic and neural control of the 24-hour norepinephrine rhythm in the rat pineal gland, J.Pharmacol.Exp.Therap., 157:487.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Morph. and Cell Biol., Univ. of Oviedo, Spain

    M. Alvarez-Uría, C. Diaz, J. M. López & J. Tolivia

  2. Departamento de Morfologia y Biología Celular Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Oviedo, Julían Claveria S/N, 33006, Oviedo, Spain

    R. J. Reiter

  3. Dept. Cel. Struc. Biol., Univ. Texas, HSC, San Antonio, USA

    R. J. Reiter

Authors
  1. M. Alvarez-Uría
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Diaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. M. López
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Tolivia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. J. Reiter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Franco Fraschini

  2. The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA

    Russel J. Reiter

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Alvarez-Uría, M., Diaz, C., López, J.M., Tolivia, J., Reiter, R.J. (1991). The Pineal Gland of Mammals: Some Open Morphological Questions. In: Fraschini, F., Reiter, R.J. (eds) Role of Melatonin and Pineal Peptides in Neuroimmunomodulation. NATO ASI Series, vol 204. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3756-4_1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3756-4_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6673-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3756-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation