Investigation of the human pineal gland 3D organization by X-ray phase contrast tomography

Bukreeva, Inna; Junemann, Olga; Cedola, Alessia; Palermo, Francesca; Maugeri, Laura; Provinciali, Ginevra Begani; Pieroni, Nicola; Sanna, Alessia; Otlyga, Dmitry; Buzmakov, A. V.; Krivonosov, Yuri; Золотов, Д. А.; Chukalina, Marina; Ivanova, Anna A.; Saveliev, S. V.; Асадчиков, В. Е.; Fratini, Michela

doi:10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107659

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…This finding is strengthened by evidence that higher levels of Zn were found in the pineal gland [48] of some animals (calves, cows and pigs) [49]. Particularly, in the human pineal gland and in some brain tumors it has been reported a beneficial association between high zinc content and specific physiological roles [6,49,50,51,52]. In mammalian cells approximately 98% of the total Zn concentration in the body is intracellular, and only a small portion accumulates in the extracellular matrix.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Analysis of the Influence of Zn Excess in the Pineal Gland by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence

Correa-Gillieron

Barbosa

Ferezin-Pinto

et al. 2022

AJOB

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The TXRF technique (total reflection X-ray fluorescence) was employed to analyze the concentration of zinc (Zn) and other metals in the pineal gland of rats submitted to orally administered excess dose of Zn sulfate. The histochemical localization of Zn was also performed. TXRF results showed a 42.9% increase in Zn concentration, and alterations on the homeostasis of other essential elements in rats. It was concluded that TXRF is a suitable technique for measuring, for the first time in this work, the concentration of Zn accumulated in the pineal gland after administration of an excess dose of Zn, and this result may be either directly or indirectly related to alteration in the homeostasis of other chemical elements, such as S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn and Fe.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The pineal gland (PG, epiphyse cerebri) [1][2][3][4][5] is a neuroendocrine gland that integrates the circumventricular organs; PG parenchyma is mainly composed of pinealocytes, microglia and astrocytes [6]. The pinealocytes secrete melatonin, a neurohormone that is synthesized and secreted almost entirely at night.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of the Influence of Zn Excess in the Pineal Gland by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence

Correa-Gillieron

Barbosa

Ferezin-Pinto

et al. 2022

AJOB

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“…The pineal gland is the organ that is responsible for carrying out and regulating the Circadian cycle by transmitting light from the environment as an internal signal, melatonin (Figure 1). The pineal gland develops from an area of the neuroepithelium close to the roof of the third ventricle [24,25]. The pineal gland is performed by a collection of cells, mainly pinealocytes (associated with melatonin); you can also find astrocytes, microglia, and endothelial cells.…”

Section: Pineal Gland Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pinealocytes have been divided into two types: Type I comprises 90% of the parenchyma cells; their morphology is long with a euchromatic nucleus and a prominent nucleolus. Type II represents around 15% of the cells; these are smaller with an oval nucleus and denser [24,25]. The characteristic of pinealocytes are the markers that they share with the cells of the aldynoglia, and they have been shown to be positive for GFAP, vimentin, S100β (Table 1) [15][16][17].…”

Section: Pineal Gland Cellsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Aldynoglia Cells in Neuroinflammatory and Neuroimmune Responses after Spinal Cord Injury

Buzoianu-Anguiano

Torres-Llacsa

Doncel‐Pérez

2021

Cells

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Aldynoglia are growth-promoting cells with a morphology similar to radial glia and share properties and markers with astrocytes and Schwann cells. They are distributed in several locations throughout the adult central nervous system, where the cells of the aldynoglia interact and respond to the signals of the immune cells. After spinal cord injury (SCI), the functions of resident aldynoglia, identified as ependymocytes, tanycytes, and ependymal stem cells (EpSCs) of the spinal cord are crucial for the regeneration of spinal neural tissue. These glial cells facilitate axonal regrowth and remyelination of injured axons. Here, we review the influence of M1 or M2 macrophage/microglia subpopulations on the fate of EpSCs during neuroinflammation and immune responses in the acute, subacute, and chronic phases after SCI.

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“…28 The capabilities of XPCT for nondestructive studies of the pineal organ at the level of PG vascular and neural organization and micro-architecture of PG calcification have recently been demonstrated. 4,29 In our research, we used micro-CT and propagationbased XPCT imaging (PBI XPCT) setups as relevant noninvasive imaging tools for the 3D investigation of PG. XPCT reconstructed images enabled highresolution 3D visualization of the whole PG sample with micro-features of the parenchyma and calcification, which could not be detected with other imaging techniques.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micromorphology of pineal gland calcification in age‐related neurodegenerative diseases

et al. 2022

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Background The formation of concrements in human pineal gland (PG) is a physiological process and, according to many researchers, is associated with the involution of PG structures. The majority of scientific publications concern progressive calcification of PG, leaving out studies on the destruction of already formed calcified concrements. Our study fills the gap in knowledge about calcified zones destruction in PG in normal aging and neuropathological conditions, which has not been addressed until now. Purpose Our objective is to gain insight into human PG tissue impairment in both normal aging and neurodegenerative conditions. X‐ray phase‐contrast tomography (XPCT) allowed us to study PG tissue degeneration at high spatial resolution and, for the first time, to examine the damaged PG concrements in detail. Our research finding could potentially enhance the understanding of the PG involvement in the process of aging as well as in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). Methods The research was carried out on human PG autopsy material in normal aging, VD, and AD conditions. Laboratory‐based micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) was used to collect and evaluate samples of native, uncut, and unstained PG with different degrees of pineal calcification. The detailed high‐resolution 3D images of the selected PGs were produced using synchrotron‐based XPCT. Histology and immunohistochemistry of soft PG tissue confirmed XPCT results. Results We performed via micro‐CT the evaluation of the morphometric parameters of PG such as total sample volume, calcified concrements volume, and percentage of concrements in the total volume of the sample. XPCT imaging revealed high‐resolution details of age‐related PG alteration. In particular, we noted signs of moderate degradation of concrements in some PGs from elderly donors. In addition, our analysis revealed noticeable degenerative change in both concrements and soft tissue of PGs with neuropathology. In particular, we observed a hollow core and separated layers as well as deep ragged cracks in PG concrements of AD and VD samples. In parenchyma of some samples, we detected wide pinealocyte‐free fluid‐filled areas adjacent to the calcified zones. Conclusion The present work provides the basis for future scientific research focused on the dynamic nature of PG calcium deposits and PG soft tissue in normal aging and neurodegenerative diseases.

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Investigation of the human pineal gland 3D organization by X-ray phase contrast tomography

Cited by 8 publications

References 23 publications

Analysis of the Influence of Zn Excess in the Pineal Gland by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence

Analysis of the Influence of Zn Excess in the Pineal Gland by Total Reflection X-ray Fluorescence

Role of Aldynoglia Cells in Neuroinflammatory and Neuroimmune Responses after Spinal Cord Injury

Micromorphology of pineal gland calcification in age‐related neurodegenerative diseases

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