Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Indications for the presence of two populations of serotonin-containing pinealocytes in the pineal complex of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

An immunohistochemical study

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Serotonin-like immunoreactivity was investigated in the pineal complex of the golden hamster by use of the indirect immunohistochemical technique. The superficial and deep portions of the pineal gland, and also the pineal stalk exhibited an intense cellular immunoreaction for serotonin. In addition, perivascular serotonin-immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed. Some serotonin-immunoreactive processes of the pinealocytes terminated on the surface of the ventricular lumen in the pineal and suprapineal recesses, indicating a receptive or secretory function of these cells. Several serotonin-immunoreactive processes connected the deep pineal with the habenular area. One week after bilateral removal of both superior cervical ganglia the serotonin immunoreaction of the entire pineal complex was greatly decreased. However, some cells in the pineal complex, of which several exhibited a neuron-like morphology, remained intensively stained after ganglionectomy. This indicates that the indoleamine content of some cells in the pineal complex of the golden hamster is independent of the sympathetic innervation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bertler Å, Falck B, Owman C (1963) Cellular localization of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Kgl Fysiogr Sällsk Lund Förhdl 33:13–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertler Å, Falck B, Owman C (1964) Studies on 5-hydroxytryptamine stores in the pineal gland of the rat. Acta Physiol Scand 63 [Suppl] 239: 1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Dafny N, McClung R (1975) Pineal body: Neural recording. Experientia (Basel) 31:321–322

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Rio-Hortega P (1932) Pineal gland. In: W Penfield (ed) Cytology and Cellular Pathology of the Nervous System, vol. 2, New York, PB Hoeber, pp 635–703

    Google Scholar 

  • Falck B, Hillarp NÅ, Thieme G, Thorp A (1962) Fluorescence of catecholamines and related compounds condensed with formaldehyde. J Histochem Cytochem 10:348–354

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hewing M (1978) A liquor contacting area in the pineal recess of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Anat Embryol 153:295–304

    Google Scholar 

  • Juillard MT, Collin JP (1980) Pools of serotonin in the pineal gland of the mouse: the mammalian pinealocyte as a component of the diffuse neuroendocrine system. Cell Tissue Res 213:272–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein DC, Auerbach DA, Namboodiri MAA, Wheler GHT (1981) Indole metabolism in the mammalian pineal gland. In: Reiter RJ (ed) The Pineal Gland, vol. 2, Boca Raton, CRC Press, pp 199–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Korf HW, Møller M, Gery I, Zigler JS, Klein DC (1985) Immunocytochemical demonstration of retinal S-antigen in the pineal organ of four mammalian species. Cell Tissue Res 239:81–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Korf HW, Oksche A, Ekström P, Gery I, Zigler JS, Klein DC (1986) Pineatocyte projections into the mammalian brain revealed with S-antigen antiserum. Science 231:735–737

    Google Scholar 

  • Loren I, Björklund A, Lindvall O (1976) The catecholamine systems in the developing rat brain. Brain Res 117:313–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsushima S, Reiter RJ (1978) Electron microscopic observations on neuron-like cells in the ground squirrel pineal gland. J Neural Transm 42:223–237

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuura T, Sano Y (1983) Distribution of monoamine-containing nerve fibers in the pineal organ of untreated and sympathectomized dogs. Fluorescence and immunohistochemical studies. Cell Tissue Res 234:519–531

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuura T, Sano Y (1986) Characteristic patterns of monoaminergic nerve fibers in the pineal organ of the monkey, Macaca fuscata. Cell Tissue Res 245:453–456

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuura T, Takeuchi Y, Sano Y (1983) Immunohistochemical and electron microscopical studies on serotonin-containing nerve fibers in the pineal organ of the rat. Biomed Res 4:261–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller M (1985) Non-sympathetic synaptic innervation of the pinealocyte of the mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus): an electron microscopic study. J Neurocytol 14:541–550

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller M, Veen T van (1981) Fluorescence histochemistry of the pineal gland. In: Reiter RJ (ed) The Pineal Gland, vol. 1: Anatomy and Biochemistry, Boca Raton, Florida, CRC Press, pp 69–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Møller M, Nielsen JT, Veen T van (1979) Effect of superior cervical ganglionectomy on monoamine content in the epithalamic area of the mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). A fluorescence histochemical study. Cell Tissue Res 201:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen JT, Møller M (1978) Innervation of the pineal gland in the mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). A fluorescence microscopical study. Cell Tissue Res 187:235–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Owman C (1964) New aspects of the mammalian pineal gland. Acta Physiol Scand 63 [Suppl] 240:1–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Owman C (1965) Localization of neuronal and parenchymal monoamines under normal and experimental conditions in the mammalian pineal gland. Progr Brain Res 10:423–453

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiter RJ (1978) Interaction of photoperiod, pineal and seasonal reproduction as exemplified by findings in the hamster. Prog Reprod Biol 4:169–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiter RJ, Hedlund L (1976) Peripheral sympathetic innervation of the deep pineal gland of the golden hamster. Experientia (Basel) 32:1071–1072

    Google Scholar 

  • Reuss S, Vollrath L (1984) Electrophysiological properties of rat pinealocytes: evidence for circadian and ultradian rhythms. Exp Brain Res 55:455–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Reuss S, Semm P, Vollrath L (1985) Changes in the electrical activity of the rat pineal gland following stimulation of the cervical sympathetic ganglia. J Autonom Nerv Syst 12:281–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Rønnekleiv OK, Kelly MJ, Wuttke W (1980) Single unit recordings in the rat pineal gland: evidence for habenulo-pineal neural connections. Exp Brain Res 39:187–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Semm P (1981) Electrophysiological aspects of the mammalian pineal gland. In: Oksche A, Pévet P (eds) The Pineal Organ: Photobiology-Biochronometry-Endocrinology. Amsterdam, Elsevier/North-Holland Biom Press, pp 211–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan MN, Reiter RJ (1968) The fine structure of the hamster pineal gland. Am J Anat 122:357–376

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan MN, Reiter RJ (1970a) Observations on the pineal system in the hamster. I. Relations of the superficial and deep pineal to the epithalamus. J Morphol 131:153–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan MN, Reiter RJ (1970b) Observations on the pineal system in the hamster. II. Fine structure of the deep pineal. J Morphol 131:163–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinbush HWM (1981) Distribution of serotonin-immunoreactivity in the central nervous system of the rat. Cell bodies and terminals. Neuroscience 6:557–618

    Google Scholar 

  • Tillet Y, Ravault JP, Selve C, Evin G, Castro B, Dubois MP (1986) Conditions d'utilization d'anticorps spécifiques pour la visualization immunohistochimique de la sérotonine et de la mélatonine dans la glande pinéale du mouton. CR Acad Sci Paris 303:77–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Tramu G, Pillez A, Leonardelli J (1983) Serotonin axons of the ependyma and circumventricular organs in the forebrain of the guinea pig. An immunohistochemical study. Cell Tissue Res 228:297–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Vollrath L (1981) The pineal organ. In: Oksche A, Vollrath L (eds) Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen vol. CI/7. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiklund L (1974) Development of serotonin-containing cells and the sympathetic innervation of the habenular region in the brain. A fluorescence histochemical study. Cell Tissue Res 155:231–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Zatz M (1978) Sensitivity and cyclic nucleotides in the rat pineal gland. J Neural Transm [Suppl] 13:97–114

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Anatomy of Domestic Animals, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    B. Cozzi

  2. Institute of Medical Anatomy, Department B, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    M. Møller

Authors
  1. B. Cozzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Møller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by a Grant from the Italian Society for Veterinary Sciences

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cozzi, B., Møller, M. Indications for the presence of two populations of serotonin-containing pinealocytes in the pineal complex of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Cell Tissue Res. 252, 115–122 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213832

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213832

Key words

Search

Navigation