Ultrastructural characteristics and innervation of the pineal organ of the Antarctic seal Leptonychotes weddelli

Quantitative differences in the pineal ultrastructure of perinatal and adult harp (Phoca groenlandica) and hooded seals (Cystophora cristata)

Seals are unique among mammals in that newborns have a large pineal gland and extremely high plasma levels of melatonin at birth. Melatonin levels are also high in the seal fetus but decline rapidly during the first few days of life. The aim of the present study was to provide quantitative information about the ultrastructure of the seal pineal gland using fetal, newborn, and adult hooded seals (Cystophora cristata), and newborn and adult harp seals (Phoca groenlandica). The relative and absolute volumes of pinealocytes (Pi), arteries and veins, nerves, connective tissue, capillaries and glial cells, as well as mitocondria and lipid droplets in Pi, were calculated by use of point count analysis. Whereas the pineal ultrastructure was similar in fetuses and newborns, both seal species showed a pronounced and particular reduction in the volume of Pi and a similar reduction in pinealocyte mitochondria. There was also a shift from unmyelinated to myelinated pineal nerves in adults compared with fetal/newborns. The selective and marked reduction of Pi may explain the zonated pineal structure typical of the adult seal. The results demonstrate that the fetal gland is as large and active as that of the newborn seal and support the notion that the large size and high activity of the pineal gland in the newborn seal is a fading consequence of its prenatal condition.

Ultrastructure of the mammalian pinealocyte under natural and experimental conditions: quantitative aspects

This review briefly summarizes data accumulated on the quantitative aspects of the ultrastructure of the mammalian pinealocyte. Quantitative changes have been demonstrated under natural and experimental conditions in pinealocyte cell organelles in various species. Special attention is paid to two cytoplasmic components most frequently studied by means of quantitative electron microscopy, namely, dense-core vesicles and "synaptic" ribbons.

The ultrastructure of mammalian pinealocytes: a systematic investigation

Pinealocytes are not only the principal cellular components of the pineal gland, but they are also the principal synthetic machinery of this enigmatical gland with highly diverse and often questionable empyreal roles assigned to it. Ultrastructural descriptions of pinealocytes belonging to some 70 species of mammals (a mere 2% or less of the over 4,200 mammalian species) have been summarized from the available literature with new observations on 12 species of chiropterans. Space limitation precluded any treatment of the supporting glia, neural elements, and the perivascular spaces. A detailed table lists nearly all mammalian species whose pineal ultrastructure has been investigated. Blanks in this table point to the necessity of studies on those particular groups. A tabular listing of unusual structures reported within the pinealocyte cytoplasm points out the impending experimental work on these species. Such studies using the latest techniques might provide clearer insights into the functional role of the pineal gland as an important and integral component of the neuroendocrine axis. Whereas sufficient structural information now exists on cytoplasmic organelles such as synaptic ribbons and spherules, annulate lamellae, subsurface cisterns, and the several types of synaptic arrangements seen in relation to the pinealocyte soma and its processes, the functional role of these structures in pineal synthetic processes remains to be elucidated.

The pineal gland in newborn southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina

In the newborn southern elephant seal the pineal gland is very large, and both pineal and plasma melatonin concentration is elevated. The pineal gland was investigated during the first 24 h, and up to 20 days of age, in elephant seal pups. A primary aim of this investigation was to determine whether there are obvious ultrastructural characteristics of pinealocytes that are exhibiting extraordinarily high levels of activity. Blood and pineal glands were collected from thirty seven pups of known age which were sampled at random from early September to early November (1985) at Macquarie Island. The pineal gland is large (mean weight, 4.71 +/- 0.35 gm, range 1-9.3 gm) and actively secreting melatonin at birth. Melatonin concentrations were extremely variable, yet very high in pups during the first 24 h post-partum. Mean melatonin plasma concentration for pups 0-24 h was 17632.8 +/- 5723.8 pmol/l (4090.8 +/- 1327.9 pg/ml), ranging from 126 pmol/l (29 pg/ml) to 297000 pmol/l (68904 pg/ml). Electron microscopic examination did not reveal any marked changes in pinealocyte ultrastructure suggestive of increased secretory activity during this period. The large and extremely active pineal gland in newborn southern elephant seal suggests that it is actively involved in thermoregulation.

Fluorescence and electron microscopic study of the tree shrew pineal organ

The fine structure of the pineal gland and the pineal innervation in the tree shrew were studied by electron microscopy and glyoxylic acid-induced fluorescence microscopy respectively. The parenchymal cells consist of pinealocytes, glial cells and pigment-containing cells. The pinealocytes are characterized by the presence of granular vesicles, synaptic ribbons, electron-dense bodies and small profiles of rER with dilated cisternae. Glial cells contain light cytoplasmic bodies, lipofuscin granules, bundles of microfilaments, and elongate profiles of rER with flattened cisternae which are often stacked together with light cytoplasmic bodies; the pigment-containing cells are unique in possessing giant pigment granules in the cytoplasm. The pinealocyte/glial cell/pigment cell in tree shrew pineals may be the same cell line of parenchymal cells at different ontogenetic stages. Pigment-containing cells contain pigment granules as a prominent cytoplasmic inclusion, suggesting they are senscent in secretory function. Both pinealocytes and glial cells contain structures suggesting secretory function such as well-developed Golgi complex and granular vesicles. The antigonadotrophic substances may be stored in granular vesicles. The present ultrastructural study supports the conclusion that tree shrew pineal organ is an endocrine gland which is heavily innervated by adrenergic nerves and possibly by cholinergic nerves.

Ultrastructure of the pineal gland of the fox

The ultrastructure of the pineal gland of the fox was examined and compared with that of other mammals. The pineal gland of the fox is composed of two different populations of pinealocytes (I and II). The pinealocytes I were distributed homogeneously throughout the parenchyma, while pinealocytes II were located generally near blood vessels. A Golgi apparatus, granular endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, lysosomes, centrioles, and cilia were present in both cell populations. A characteristic feature of pinealocytes I was the presence of dense-core vesicles, presumably of Golgi origin; whereas glycogen deposits and pigment granules were common features of pinealocytes II. In addition to the pinealocytes, the parenchyma contained fibrous astrocytes. The capillaries of the pineal gland of the fox consisted of a nonfenestrated endothelium. Numerous never fibers, presumably adrenergic, were observed throughout the parenchyma.

On the presence of different populations of pinealocytes in the mammalian pineal gland

The different categories of cells described by many authors in the pineal gland of mammals have been critically considered. In some mammalian species, two different populations of pinealocytes have been observed. To each of these populations a specific secretory process can be attributed. One is characterized by the formation of granular vesicles originating from the Golgi apparatus, the other by the formation of material directly from the cisterns of the granular endoplasmic reticulum. Both of these secretory processes appear to be also present in the pineal of the mole, the hedgehog, and the rat, mammals in which generally only one population of pinealocytes has been described. The physiological consequences of these findings have been discussed.

The pineal gland of nocturnal mammals. I. The pinealocytes of the bat (Nyctalus noctula, Schreber)

The ultrastructure of the pinealocytes of noctule bats, mammals which live most of the time in darkness or very low light intensities, was examined and compared with the pinealocytes of other mammals. Two different populations of pinealocytes (I and II) were observed. They differ in general aspect, in location and especially in their content of cell organelles involved in synthetic processes. Mitochondria, ribosomes, lysosomes and lipid inclusions were present in the perikaryon of pinealocytes of both populations. In the pinealocytes of population I some granular vesicles, of presumed Golgi origin, and some other structures were observed. Pinealocytes of population II are characterized by many glycogen granules, more or less associated with a large vacuolar system. Moreover, some small vacuoles originating from cisterns of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and containing flocculent material of a moderate electron density are described. The possibility is discussed that these small vacuoles are involved in one of the secretory processes of the pineal gland while the granular vesicles of the pinealocyte of the population I are the products of another.