Summary
The pineal of lower vertebrates characteristically contains true and modified photoreceptors with functional und structural homologies to retinal photoreceptors. Afferent nerves convey photic information from the pineal to sensory areas of the brain stem. Light also influences synthetic activity within the organ, controlling the rhythm in melatonin production which is generated endogenously. The molecular mechanisms underlying this rhythmic event are described and the hypothesis advanced that the pineal transduces several forms of environmental stimulus involved in the regulation of rhythmic function.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature
Cole, W. C., and Youson, J. H., Morphology of the pineal complex of the anadromous sea lamprey,Petromyzon marinus L. Am. J. Anat.165 (1982) 131–163.
Collin, J. P., Brisson, P., Falcón, J., and Voisin, P., Multiple cell types in the pineal: functional aspects, in: Pineal and Retinal Relationships. p. 15–32. Eds P. J. O'Brien and D. C. Klein. Academic Press, New York 1986.
Collin, J. P., Mirshahi, M., Brisson, P., Falcón, J., Guerlotté, J., and Faure, J. P., Pineal-retinal molecular relationships: distribution of ‘S-antigen’ in the pineal complex. Neuroscience19 (1986) 657–666.
Collin, J. P., Meissl, H., Voisin, P., Brisson, P., and Falcón, J., Rhythmic signals of pineal transducers: physiological, biochemical and cytochemical evidence, in: Advances in Pineal Research 1; p. 41–50. Eds R. J. Reiter and M. Karasek, John Libbey, London/Paris 1986.
Collin, J. P., Voisin, P., Falcon, J., and Brisson, P., Evolution and environmental control of secretory processes in pineal transducers, in: Functional Morphology of Neuroendocrine Systems, p. 105–119. Eds B. Scharrer, H. W. Korf and H. G. Hartwig. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg 1987.
Falcón, J., and Meissl, H., The photosensory function of the pineal organ of the pike (Esox lucius L.). Correlation between structure and function. J. comp. Physiol.144 (1981) 127–137.
Falcón, J., and Tanabe, J., Early receptor potential of pineal organ and lateral eye of the pike. Naturwissenschaften70 (1983) 149.
Falcón, J., Guerlotté, J., Voisin, P., and Collin, J. P., Rhythmic melatonin biosynthesis in a photoreceptive pineal organ: a study in the pike. Neuroendocrinology45 (1987) 479–486.
Falcón, J., Besse, C., Guerlotté, J., and Collin, J. P., 5′-Nucleotidase activity in the pineal organ of the pike. An electron microscopic study. Cell Tissue Res.251 (1988) 495–502.
Falcón, J., Brun-Marmillon, J., Claustrat, B., and Collin, J. P., Regulation of melatonin secretion in a photoreceptive pineal organ: a study in the pike. J. Neurosci.9 (1989) 1943–1950.
Gern, W. A., and Karn, C. M., Evolution of melatonin's function and effects. Pineal Res. Rev.1 (1983) 49–90.
Gern, W. A., Biology of pineal and retinal melatonin, in: Proceedings of the Workshop on the Pineal Gland, p. 32–36. Salamanca, Spain 1986.
McNulty, J. A., Functional morphology of the pineal complex in cyclostomes elasmobranchs, and bony fishes. Pineal Res. Rev.2 (1984) 1–40.
Meissl, H., and Dodt, E., Comparative physiology of pineal photoreceptor organs, in: The Pineal Organ: Photobiology-Biochronometry-Endocrinology, p. 61–80. Eds A. Oksche and P. Pevet. Elsevier Biomedical, Amsterdam 1981.
Morita, Y., Tabata, M., and Tamotsu, S., Intracellular response and input resistance change of pineal photoreceptors and ganglion cells. Neuroscience Res. Suppl.2 (1985) s79-s88.
Reiter, R. J., Ed., The Pineal Gland, Vol. I., Anatomy and Biochemistry and Vol. II, Reproductive Effects, CRC Press, Boca Raton 1981.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Falcón, J., Collin, J.P. Photoreceptors in the pineal of lower vertebrates: Functional aspects. Experientia 45, 909–913 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01953047
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01953047