Fluoreszenzmikroskopische und elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen am Pinealorgan verschiedener Vogelarten

  • M. Ueck
Article
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Zusammenfassung

Mit der Fluoreszenzmethode von Falck-Hillarp lassen sich Artunterschiede im Innervationsmodus der Vogelepiphyse nachweisen. Bei Passer domesticus, Carduelis chloris, Pica pica, Corvus frugilegus und Gallus domesticus treten fluoreszierende adrenerge Nervenfasern nur perivaskulär, bei Anas platyrhynchos und Excalfactoria chinensis sowohl perivaskulär als auch im Parenchym, bei Columba livia lediglich vereinzelt im Parenchym auf. Die Fluoreszenzintensität des Epiphysenparenchyms von Passer domesticus und Columba livia, die nach mikrospektrographischen Messungen auf Serotonin beruht, schwankt stark von Fanggruppe zu Fanggruppe; die großen Unterschiede sind durch tagesrhythmische Schwankungen allein nicht erklärbar. In permanenter Dunkelheit nimmt die Serotoninfluoreszenz der Taubenepiphyse beträchtlich zu. Serotonin wird auch von den aminergen Nervenfasern der Vogelepiphyse gespeichert; seine Abgabe in die Blutbahn und deren physiologische Bedeutung werden diskutiert.

Die in das Lumen der Vogelepiphyse hineinragenden, von modifizierten Zilien der Pinealozyten ausgehenden Membranwirbel zeigen mit der Osmierung nach Eakin, Brandenburger, Kopsch, Kolatschev gleichartige Partikel (Durchmesser 50 Å) wie die regulär gebauten Außenglieder der retinalen und pinealen Photorezeptoren. Diese Befunde werden mit elektrophysiologischen, biochemischen und verhaltensphysiologischen Ergebnissen verglichen.

Fluorescence and electron microscope investigations of the avian pineal organ

Summary

The adrenergic innervation and the parenchymal 5-HT in the pineal organ of different avian species were investigated with the method of Falck-Hillarp. The fluorophores were identified microspectrographically. An entirely perivascular localization of adrenergic nerve fibres was observed in the pineal organs of Passer domesticus, Carduelis chloris, Pica pica, Corvus frugilegus and Gallus domesticus. The pineal organs of Anas platyrhynchos and Excalfactoria chinensis showed both perivascular and parenchymal innervation. Perivascular fibres were absent from the pineal organ of Columba livia, and only a few fine fluorescent fibres appeared in its parenchyma after pretreatment with l-dopa. The intensity of the 5-HT fluorescence of the parenchyma cells showed a high individual variability. These differences apparently do not reflect a circadian 5-HT-rhythm. Continuous darkness increased the intensity of the 5-HT-fluorescence in the pineal organ of Columba livia. 5-HT was also demonstrated within the perivascular autonomic nerve fibres of the avian pineal organ. It is probable that 5-HT is released from the pineal parenchyma into the circulation.

After prolonged osmium tetroxide treatment according to Eakin, Brandenburger, Kopsch, Kolatschev, the membrane whorls that are formed by the cilia of avian pinealocytes showed osmiophilic particles 50 Å in diameter. Similar particles have been observed in the regular outer segments of retinal and pineal photoreceptor cells of lower vertebrates. The above morphological results are discussed in view of electrophysiological, biochemical and behavioural observations.

Key words

Avian pineal organ 5-HT Adrenergic innervation Light-dependent functions 
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© Springer-Verlag 1973

Authors and Affiliations

  • M. Ueck
    • 1
  1. 1.Anatomisches Institut der Universität GießenGermany

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