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Immunocytochemical and electron-microscopic characterization of macrophage/microglia cells and expression of class II major histocompatibility complex in the pineal gland of the rat

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Abstract

Interstitial cells in the pineal gland of the rat were characterized immunocytochemically using the monoclonal antibodies MRC OX-42 and ED1 for macrophages/microglia, and MRC OX-6, which recognizes major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen. A polyclonal antibody against GFAP was used to identify astrocytes. Cells immunopositive for OX-42 and/or ED1 were distributed throughout the gland; they extended processes primarily along the perivascular spaces and occasionally within the parenchyma of the gland. Ultrastructurally, these OX-42-positive cells were characterized by a nucleus with sparse heterochromatin and cytoplasmic vacuoles/lysosomes. Cells expressing MHC class II antigen had a distribution and morphology similar to OX-42-immunopositive cells, suggesting that pineal macrophages/microglia play a role as antigen-presenting cells. GFAP-positive astrocytes were concentrated at the proximal end of the pineal where the pineal stalk enters the gland. The occurrence of antigenpresenting cells in the circumventricular neuroendocrine gland has important functional implications as these cells may be mediators of neuroimmunomodulatory mechanisms, and involved in certain disease states such as autoimmune pinealitis.

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  1. Erik B. Pedersen

    Present address: Department of Anatomy and Cytobiology, Institute of Medical Biology, Odense University, Winsløwparken 19, DK-5000, Odense, Denmark

Authors and Affiliations

  1. PharmaBiotec, Institute of Neurobiology, University of Aarhus, DK-800, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Erik B. Pedersen

  2. Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 S. First Avenue, 60 153, Maywood, IL, USA

    Linda M. Fox, Anthony J. Castro & John A. McNulty

Authors
  1. Erik B. Pedersen
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  2. Linda M. Fox
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  3. Anthony J. Castro
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  4. John A. McNulty
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Pedersen, E.B., Fox, L.M., Castro, A.J. et al. Immunocytochemical and electron-microscopic characterization of macrophage/microglia cells and expression of class II major histocompatibility complex in the pineal gland of the rat. Cell Tissue Res 272, 257–265 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302731

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00302731

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