Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ultrastructural features of the pineal gland from cold-exposed golden hamsters

  • Published:
Journal of Neurocytology

Summary

Golden hamsters exposed to various temperatures (5 and 25 °C) and photoperiods (8∶16 L∶D and 12∶10 L∶D), were killed at the end of 4, 8 and 12 weeks of exposure. The pineal glands were examined electron microscopically. Ultrastructural differences in the pineal gland were observed between the cold-exposed animals and the corresponding controls. The most striking difference was the occurrence of membranous whorls in pinealocytes of cold-exposed hamsters. These membranous whorls were of varying sizes and degree of complexity suggesting possible developmental stages of the membranous whorls. An apparent increase in ribosomal density and nuclear polymorphism were observed in the pinealocytes of cold-exposed hamsters. Short photoperiod appeared to augment the formation of membranous whorls in animals exposed to cold. It is suggested that the membranous whorls are focal sites of membrane reorganization that may be requisite for cellular activity under these environmental conditions. It is also suggested that gonadal involution owing to cold exposure may be mediated by the pineal gland.

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

  • Arstila, A. U. (1967) Electron microscopic studies on the structure and histochemistry of the pineal gland of the rat.Neuroendocrinology Supplement 2, 1–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Candiolo, L. andFilogamo, G. (1966) Lamellar bodies within the neuroblasts of the neural tube in the chick embryo.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 69, 480–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavazos, F. andLucas, F. V. (1970) Giant lysosomes and their associated structures in the normal human endometrium.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 106, 434–46.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clabough, J. W. (1971) Ultrastructural features of the pineal gland in normal and light deprived golden hamsters.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 114, 151–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curgy, J. J. (1968) Influence du mode de fixation sur la possibilité d'observer des structures myeliniques dans les hepatocytes d'embryons de poulet.Journal de Microscopie 7, 63–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dellman, H. -D. andRodriguez, E. M. (1970) Herring bodies; an electron microscopic study of local degeneration and regeneration of neurosecretory axons.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 111, 293–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubois, P. andGirod, C. (1971) Formations lamellaires concentriques dans des cellules antehypophysaires chez le hamster dare.Zeitschrift für Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 115, 196–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ericsson, J. L. E., Trump, B. F. andWeibel, J. (1965) Electron microscopic studies of the proximal tubule of the rat kidney. II. Cytosegresomes and cytosomes: Their relationship to each other and to the lysosome concept.Laboratory Investigation 14, 1341–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fawcett, D. W. andLyman, C. P. (1954) The effect of low environmental temperature on the composition of depot fat in relation to hibernation.Journal of Physiology (London) 126, 235–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frehn, J. L. andLiu, C. (1970) Effect of temperature, photoperiod and hibernation on the testes of golden hamsters.Journal of Experimental Zoology 174, 317–24.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geuze, J. J. (1970) Light and electron microscope observations on auto- and heterophagy in the exocrine pancreas of the hibernating frog (Rana esculenta).Journal of Ultrastructure Research 32, 391–404.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herbert, J. (1971) The role of the pineal gland in the control by light of the reproductive cycle of the ferret. InThe Pineal Gland (edited byWolstenholme, G. E. W. andKnight, J.), pp. 303–20. Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, R. A., Hester, R. J. andTowns, C. (1965) Effect of light and temperature on the endocrine system of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus Waterhouse).Comparative Biochemical Physiology 15, 525–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, R. A. andReiter, R. J. (1965) Pineal gland: Influence on gonads of male hamsters.Science 148, 1609–11.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, R. A., Robinson, P. F. andMagalhaes, H. (1968)The golden hamster, its biology and use in medical research. Ames, Iowa, the Iowa State University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hopfner, C., Caulet, T. andAdnet, J. J. (1970) Etude ultrastructurale de neurone sympathique de rhomme âgé.Virchow's Archiv Abteilung B: Zellpathologie 5, 326–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hruban, Z., Spargo, B., Swift, H., Wissler, R. W. andKleinfeld, R. G. (1963) Focal cytoplasmic degeneration.American Journal of Pathology 42, 657–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miline, R., Devecerski, V., Sijacki, N. andKrstic, R. (1970) Pineal gland behaviour as affected by cold.Hormones 1, 321–31.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pannese, E. (1966) Structures possibly related to the formation of new mitochondria in spinal ganglion neuroblast.Journal of Ultrastructure Research 15, 57–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raison, J. K. andLyons, J. M. (1971) Hibernation: Alteration of mitochondrial membranes as a prerequisite for metabolism at low temperature.Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, USA 68, 2092–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raison, J. K., Lyons, J. M. andThomson, W. W. (1971) The influence of membranes on the temperature-induced changes in the kinetics of some respiratory enzymes of mitochondria.Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 142, 83–90.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ralph, C. L., Mull, D. andLynch, H. J. (1970) Locomotor activity rhythms of rats under constant conditions as predictors of melatonin content of their pineals.American Zoologist 10, 302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, M., Sideman, M. B. andPlichta, E. S. (1967) Spontaneous activity and pineal gland cell density.Journal of Endocrinology 37, 475–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reiter, R. J. andHester, R. J. (1966) Inter-relationships of the pineal gland, the superior cervical ganglia and the photoperiod in the regulation of the endocrine systems of hamsters.Endocrinology 79, 1168–70.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reiter, R. J. (1969) Pineal function in long term blinded male and female golden hamsters.General and Comparative Endocrinology 12, 460–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reiter, R. J. andFraschini, F. (1969) Endocrine aspects of the mammalian pineal gland: a review.Neuroendocrinology 5, 219–55.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reiter, R. J., Sorrentino, S. Jr., Ralph, C. L., Lynch, H. J., Mull, D. andJarrow, E. (1971) Some endocrine effects of blinding and anosmia in adult male rats with observations on pineal melatonin.Endocrinology 88, 895–900.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, M. N. andReiter, R. J. (1968) The fine structure of the hamster pineal gland.American Journal of Anatomy 122, 357–75.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Westrum, L. E. (1969) Electron microscopy of degeneration in the lateral olfactory tract and plexiform layer of prepyriform cortex of the rat.Zeitschrift fur Zellforschung und mikroskopische Anatomie 98, 157–87.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolstenholme, G. E. W. andKnight, J., editors (1971).The pineal Gland. Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wurtman, R. J., Axelrod, J. andChu, E. (1963) Melatonin; a pineal substance: effect on the ovary.Science 141, 277–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wurtman, R. J., Axelrod, J. andKelly, D. E. (1968)The Pineal. New York, Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wurtman, R. J. andAnton-Tay, F. (1969) The mammalian pineal as a neuroendocrine transducer.Recent Progress in Hormone Research 25, 439–513.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 46202, Indianapolis, Indiana

    Corazon D. Bucana

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, 61761, Normal, Illinois

    Mathew J. Nadakavukaren & John L. Frehn

Authors
  1. Corazon D. Bucana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mathew J. Nadakavukaren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John L. Frehn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Biological Sciences at Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, USA.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bucana, C.D., Nadakavukaren, M.J. & Frehn, J.L. Ultrastructural features of the pineal gland from cold-exposed golden hamsters. J Neurocytol 2, 237–247 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01104028

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01104028

Keywords

Search

Navigation