The mammalian pineal organ: Electron microscopic studies on the fine structure of pinealocytes, glial cells and on the perivascular compartment

Wartenberg, H.

doi:10.1007/bf00340360

Cited by 111 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…In birds (COLLIN, 1968), rat (WOLFE, 1965;ARsTILA, 1967), cat and monkey (W ARTENBERG, 1968), synaptic ribbons and associated vesicles are found within some pinealocytes. There is no evidence that the ribbons are associated with synaptic junctions in these animals, in which the pinealocytes appear not to be photoreceptive.…”

Section: G Simpler Vertebrate Visual Organsmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Morphological Organization of the Vertebrate Retina

Stell

1972

Handbook of Sensory Physiology

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Section: G Simpler Vertebrate Visual Organsmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Morphological Organization of the Vertebrate Retina

Stell

1972

Handbook of Sensory Physiology

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“…1,2). These cells are characterized by their triangular shape (6-8 pm in the long axis), slender and short polar processes, and perilobular location [21] ( fig. 2).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Glutamate Receptors in Glial Cells and Neurons of the Pineal Gland in a Higher Primate

Mick¹

1995

Neuroendocrinology

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A role for glutamate in signalling mechanisms in the mammalian pineal gland is suggested by the high concentration of the transmitter in pinealocytes and the expression of glutamate receptor subunits in the rat gland. A single type of glutamate binding site has been characterized in the rat and bovine pineal gland, preferentially sensitive to the glutamate agonist α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA), a potent inhibitor of melatonin synthesis in vitro. In order to investigate the anatomical basis of a putative role of glutamate in the pineal gland of a higher primate, we performed an immuno-histochemical analysis of the cellular localization of AMPA-type glutamate receptor subunits in the pineal gland of the macaque. Staining obtained with an antibody specific to GluRl receptor sub unit showed that this subunit is present in interstitial cells and astrocyte-like cells located in the parenchyma of the distal part of the gland. An antibody specific to GluR4 subunit stained astrocyte-like cells throughout the gland, however mainly in the proximal part, as well as a network of thin and long astrocytic-like processes located exclusively in the distal part of the gland. Staining obtained with an antibody recognizing both GluR2 and GluR3 subunits and the variant GluR4c exhibits a neuropilar-like pattern heterogeneously distributed throughout the gland. The three antibodies stained neuronal-like cells located mainly in the central part of the gland. These findings reveal that in the primate pineal gland, glutamate can act on glial cells via AMPA-gated receptor channels in unusual subunit configurations that likely underly high calcium permeability. Glutamate-induced responses in astrocytes may either regulate glutamatergic transmission by a stimulation of glutamate transport or modulate pinealocyte activity. Based on the existence of distinct glial subpopulations characterized by the differential distribution of AMPA-type receptor subunits, the anatomical division of the pineal gland into proximal and distal parts indicates a functional partition of the gland in higher primates. Intrapineal neuronal-like cells bearing AMPA-type receptors similar to those present in central neurons may be targets of a glutamatergic central neural input or of neighboring pinealocytes.

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“…As has, however, been mentioned before a glial barrier may separate pinealocytes, especially the terminals of their processes, from the perivascular spaces as is the case in cat and monkey (Wartenberg, 1968). This barrier is formed by cytoplasmic glial cells and their processes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 88%

“…The number of pineal glial cells greatly varies among mammals. In the pineal parenchyma of the rat their number amounts to about 12% of the total number of pineal cell elements (Wallace et al, 1969), while in cat and monkey the ratio of glial cell perikarya to pinealocyte perikarya is less than 1 : 10 (Wartenberg, 1968). In the rat pineal gland the glial cells differ in some aspects from the classical astrocytes, more especially because they have some ultrastructural features in common with the so-called dark pinealocytes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 94%

“…In the cat such bulging endings are covered by an extremely thin glial barrier and the basal lamina. In the Rhesus monkey, the terminals of the pinealocyte processes penetrating deeply into the perivascular spaces are exclusively covered by the basal lamina, while, in the rat, the terminals of such processes bulging into the perivascular spaces are often completely devoid of either a glial sheath or a basal lamina (Wartenberg, 1968). Pinealocyte processes directly terminating in perivascular spaces have also been observed in the dog, hamster, guinea-pig, mouse and gopher (see Vollrath, 1981, for literature).…”

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confidence: 98%

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Comparative Gross and Fine Morphology of the Mammalian Pineal Gland

Kappers¹

1983

The Pineal Gland and Its Endocrine Role

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Some knowledge of the structure of an organ is indispensable for the investigation and understanding of its function. This is also very evident in case of the mammalian pineal organ the structure of which clearly points to its endocrine function.Its classical name, and also its official one now, is "corpus pineale". This term was given to the structure by Galen (ca 130 -ca 200 A.n.) who observed that, in man, the organ is shaped like the cone of a pine tree. In general, however, the shape, size and also the location of the mammalian pineal greatly vary among mammals. Before dealing with this matter, a short survey of the principles of pineal embryology is necessary because the ontogenetic development of the organ elucidates much about its adult morphology and its relationship to neighbouring structures.Just like in other vertebrates, the mammalian pineal organ develops from the neuroepithelial layer which forms the roof of the dorsal part of the diencephalon, the epithalamus. In fetal stages, this layer, which is situated between the habenular commissure rostrally and the posterior commissure caudally, evaginates forming a sac-like structure. In the rat, this first indication of a pineal anlage is observed between the 12th and the 14ith day of fetal life (Gardner, 1949;Ariens Kappers, 1960;Vollrath, 1981, also for literature). Next, the pineal evagination deepens and its wall becomes thicker by cell proliferation. At days 16 and 17. the wall forllLs infoldings

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The mammalian pineal organ: Electron microscopic studies on the fine structure of pinealocytes, glial cells and on the perivascular compartment

Cited by 111 publications

References 28 publications

The Morphological Organization of the Vertebrate Retina

The Morphological Organization of the Vertebrate Retina

Non-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Glutamate Receptors in Glial Cells and Neurons of the Pineal Gland in a Higher Primate

Comparative Gross and Fine Morphology of the Mammalian Pineal Gland

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