Summary
The pineal system of the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) was investigated by light and electron microscopy, special attention being paid to the sites of contact with the ventricular system. The results reveal that the pineal system of this species has a specific topographical relationship to the suprapineal recess of the third ventricle. The dorsal side of the proximal part of the pineal system forms the floor and the caudal wall of this recess. Here, a consistent and relatively large area lacks an ependymal lining, enabling pinealocytes to come into direct contact with the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This area is assumed to be the morphological correlate of a close functional interrelationship between the pineal tissue and the CSF.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bargmann W (1943) Die Epiphysis cerebri. In: von Möllendorff W (ed) Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen VI/4. Springer, Berlin, pp 309–502
Boeckmann D (1980) Morphological investigation of the deep pineal of the rat. Cell Tissue Res 210:283–294
Gregorek JC, Seibel HR, Reiter RJ (1977) The pineal complex and its relationship to other epithalamic structures. Acta Anat 99:425–434
Hedlund L, Lischko MM, Rollag MD, Niswender GD (1977) Melatonin: Daily cycle in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of calves. Science 195:686–687
Hewing M (1978) A liquor contacting area in the pineal recess of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus). Anat Embryol 153:295–304
Hewing M (1980) Cerebrospinal fluid-contacting area in the pineal recess of the vole (Microtus agrestis), guinea pig (Cavia cobaya), and Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Cell Tissue Res 209:473–484
Hülsemann M (1967) Vergleichende histologische Untersuchungen über das Vorkommen von Gliafasern in der Epiphysis cerebri von Säugetieren. Acta Anat 66:249–278
Ito S, Winchester RJ (1963) The fine structure of the gastric mucosa in the bat. J Cell Biol 16:541–577
Kappers Ariëns J (1969) The mammalian pineal organ. J Neuro Vise Rel Suppl 9:140–184
Kappers Ariёns J (1971) The pineal organ: An introduction. In: Wolstenholme GEW, Knight J (eds) The pineal gland. A Ciba Foundation symposium. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh London
Kusche P (1966) Über Ependym und Gliafasern der erwachsenen Katze. Z Zellforsch 71:405–414
Leonhardt H (1980) Ependym und Circumventriculäre Organe. In: Oksche A (ed) Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen. Neuroglia I Vol IV/10. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Luft JH (1961) Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 9:409–414
Mess B, Trentini GP, Kovacs L, De Caetani CF (1975) Melatonin, cerebrospinal fluid, pineal gland interrelationships. In: Knigge KM, Scott DE, Kobayashi H, Ishii S (eds) Brain-endocrine interaction II. The ventricular system in neuroendocrine mechanisms. Karger, Basel
Quay WB (1973) Retrograde perfusions of the pineal region and the question of pineal vascular routes to brain and choroid plexuses. Am J Anat 137:387–402
Reiter RJ (1971) Physiological role of the pineal gland. In: Foa P (ed) The action of hormones. Thomas, Springfield
Reiter RJ, Vaughan MK, Blask DE (1975) Possible role of the cerebrospinal fluid in the transport of pineal hormones in mammals. In: Knigge KM, Scott DE, Kobayashi H, Ishii S (eds) Brainendocrine interaction II. The ventricular system in neuroendocrine mechanisms. Karger, Basel
Reppert SM, Perlow MJ, Tamarkin L, Klein DC (1979) A diurnal melatonin rhythm in primate cerebrospinal fluid. Endocrinology 104:295–301
Reynolds ES (1963) The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17:208–212
Rodríguez ES (1976) Review. The cerebrospinal fluid as a pathway in neuroendocrine integration. J Endocrinol 71:407–443
Rollag MD, Morgan RJ, Niswender GD (1978) Route of melatonin in sheep. Endocrinology 102:1–8
Sheridan MN, Reiter RJ (1970) Observations on the pineal system in the hamster. 1. Relations of the superficial and deep pineal to the epithalamus. J Morphol 131:153–162
Smith I, Mullen PE, Snedden W, Wilson BW (1976) Absolute identification of melatonin in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Nature (Lond) 260:718–719
Vigh B, Vigh-Teichmann I (1973) In: Bourne GH, Danielli JF (eds) Comparative ultrastructure of the CSF-contacting neurons. Int Rev Cytol 35:189–251
Vollrath L (1981) The pineal organ. In: Oksche A, Vollrath L (eds) Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen Vol VI/7. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York
Vollrath L, Boeckmann D (1978) Comparative anatomy of the rodent pineal complex. Gen Comp Endocrinol 43; Abstract 39
Welsh MG, Reiter RJ (1978) The pineal gland of the gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus. I. An ultrastructural study. Cell Tissue Res 193:323–336
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hewing, M. Pinealocytes contacting the cerebrospinal fluid of the suprapineal recess in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). Cell Tissue Res. 222, 177–185 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218298
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00218298