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Neural connections between the brain and the pineal gland of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

Tracer studies by use of horseradish peroxidase in vivo and in vitro

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Summary

Neurons projecting from the brain to the pineal gland via the pineal stalk were investigated in the golden hamster with the use of the retrograde horseradish-peroxidase tracing method both in vivo and in vitro. Labelled perikarya were observed in the medial and lateral habenular nuclei as well as in the posterior commissure. Single cells located in the ependymal lining of the pineal- and suprapineal recesses were also retrogradely labelled. These results show that a distinct central innervation of the pineal gland exists in the golden hamster, in agreement with findings in other mammalian species investigated by means of a similar methodology. In addition, also direct signals from the cerebrospinal fluid to the parenchyma might be conducted via cells located within the ependymal layer of the pineal- and suprapineal recesses.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Morten Møller M.D.

  2. Department of Anatomy and Cytobiology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany

    Horst-Werner Korf

Authors
  1. Morten Møller M.D.
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  2. Horst-Werner Korf
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Additional information

This study was supported by grants from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst to M.M. (312/dk-4-is), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to H.W.K. (Ko 758/2-2, 2-3), and the Carlsberg Foundation

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Møller, M., Korf, HW. Neural connections between the brain and the pineal gland of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Cell Tissue Res. 247, 145–153 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216557

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216557

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