Development of the Mammalian Pineal Gland

Altar, Anthony

doi:10.1159/000112673

Cited by 28 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…For example, studies dealing with the developing (pre-adult) pineal gland sug gest an increasing activity until puberty [3). Earlier data concerning the function of the pineal of old animals are rare and sometimes contradictory [for review see 44], How ever, in the last few years a number of studies have investi gated changes in morphology and biochemistry of the pi neal gland of older animals.…”

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confidence: 99%

Electrophysiological and Endocrinological Aspects of Aging in the Rat Pineal Gland

Reuss¹,

Olcese²,

Vollrath³

1986

Neuroendocrinology

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Previous morphological and biochemical studies point to an age-dependent loss of pineal gland function. In order to investigate the possible alterations of electrical activity of aged rat pineal glands, electrophysiological recordings in 3- and 18-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were undertaken at both daytime and nighttime. Extracellularly recorded action potentials were characterized according to discharge frequency and serum melatonin levels were determined concomitantly. Significant differences in the frequency distributions between young adult and old rats were found to occur at nighttime, with a shift towards lower frequencies in old animals. Serum melatonin levels were reduced significantly in old rats and the characteristic nocturnal peak was attenuated. These results demonstrate a distinct decrease of pineal electrical and secretory activity with advancing age, which may contribute to an age-dependent decline of neuroendocrine capacity.

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confidence: 99%

Electrophysiological and Endocrinological Aspects of Aging in the Rat Pineal Gland

Reuss¹,

Olcese²,

Vollrath³

1986

Neuroendocrinology

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“…A first step toward identification of such consequences is to define the similarities and differences in ontogeny, structure, and activity of the two parts. These attributes are well defined in the superficial pineal of the rat (see Altar, 1982, for recent review), but, unfortunately, the rat's deep component consists of only a few cells (Boeckmann, 1980) which are not easily studied. The Syrian hamster, on the other hand, has well-developed deep and superficial components (Sheridan and Reiter, 1970 a,b); and a comprehensive literature exists concerning the functions of at least the superficial pineal gland in this species (Reiter et al, 1975).…”

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confidence: 99%

Development and melatonin content of the deep pineal gland in the syrian hamster

Sheridan

Rollag

1983

Am. J. Anat.

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The morphological relationships between the superficial and deep pineal glands of neonatal Syrian hamsters are described at both light and electron microscopic levels. In addition, melatonin contents in the two glandular masses are compared throughout a 14 hr light:10 hr dark photoperiod in 20-day-old hamsters. It has been found that the pineal anlage begins to separate into deep and superficial components between the first and third postnatal days of life. Separation is usually complete by day 12. The fine structure of the deep gland is similar to that of the superficial gland throughout development. By the time of weaning (20 days of age), the young hamsters exhibit distinct nighttime elevations of melatonin in both the superficial and deep glands, the quantities in the deep gland being approximately 5% those of the superficial pineal. Like that of the superficial pineal, the rise in deep pineal melatonin content can be abolished by exposure of hamsters to light.

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“…For example, pharmacological analyses indicate that postsynaptic receptor mechanisms which mediate changes in catecholaminergic neurotransmission in adult rats first become functional relatively late in gestation, but continue to mature postnatally until adult-like status is attained (Yuwiler et aL, 1977;Backstrorn et aL, 1977). In contrast, histochemical fluorescent analysis of developmental changes in the postganglionic sympathetic fibers innervating the pineal gland suggest that presynaptic neural control mechanisms may not be present until shortly after birth (Hakanson et al, 1967;Machado et al, 1968;Altar, 1982). Sympathetic nerve terminals are not detectable by this method until approximately 1-2 days postnatally.…”

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confidence: 81%

Functional synaptogenesis and the rat pineal gland: A pharmacological investigation

Altar

Motroni

Lytle

1983

J. Neural Transmission

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Pineal glands obtained from rats of different ages were incubated in vitro with drugs known to specifically alter pre- or postsynaptic noradrenergic neurotransmission to determine when during development nerve terminal or receptor mediated control of glandular N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity might reach functional maturation. Basal daytime NAT activity measured in vitro was lowest in fetal rats, increased dramatically by the day of birth, peaked at 10 days postnatally, and subsequently declined to near adult levels by 25 days of age. Drugs (isoproterenol, norepinephrine, or propranolol) known to influence pineal gland NAT activity by acting directly on pinealocyte postsynaptic beta-noradrenoceptors produced comparable changes in enzyme activity at all ages studied, although larger doses of the receptor agonist were required in fetal animals to elevate NAT activity. In contrast, in vitro incubation with indirect acting drugs (amphetamine or 1-dopa) which require functional presynaptic nerve terminals to exert their pharmacological effects, failed to increase pineal gland NAT activity until early in postnatal life. Hence, postsynaptic beta-noradrenoceptors may function to control pineal gland NAT activity prior to the time when the presynaptic sympathetic neurons innervating the gland attain maturational status.

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Development of the Mammalian Pineal Gland

Cited by 28 publications

References 25 publications

Electrophysiological and Endocrinological Aspects of Aging in the Rat Pineal Gland

Electrophysiological and Endocrinological Aspects of Aging in the Rat Pineal Gland

Development and melatonin content of the deep pineal gland in the syrian hamster

Functional synaptogenesis and the rat pineal gland: A pharmacological investigation

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