6533b830fe1ef96bd1297c0c

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Trigeminal innervation of the mammalian pineal gland.

Stefan Reuss

subject

endocrine systemmedicine.medical_specialtyHistologyCalcitonin Gene-Related PeptideNeuropeptideSubstance PBiologyCalcitonin gene-related peptideSubstance PPineal Glandchemistry.chemical_compoundPineal glandTrigeminal ganglionInternal medicinemedicineAnimalsHumansInstrumentationRatsNeuronal tracingMedical Laboratory TechnologyEndocrinologymedicine.anatomical_structurenervous systemchemistryTrigeminal GanglionCholinergicNeurokinin AAnatomyhormones hormone substitutes and hormone antagonists

description

There is evidence that the trigeminal (Gasserian) ganglia innervate the mamma- lian pineal gland and serve in its regulation in addition to the sympathetic and cholinergic as well as further influences. By means of immunohistochemical methods, previous studies demonstrated fibers containing calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP-LI) or substance P (SP) in the superficial pineal of various mammalian species. In addition, SP and the related tachykinin, neurokinin A, were detected by radioimmunoassay and HPLC, respectively, in the rat and human pineal gland. In the present study, retrograde neuronal tracing upon injection of a tracer substance into the superfical pineal gland of rats was used in combination with immunohistochemistry to show that trigeminal ganglionic neurons innervate the gland, and that a considerable amount of these neurons are also CGRP- or SP-immunoreactive. These results reveal that afferent neuropeptidergic entering the supericial pineal gland originate from the trigeminal ganglia. The present paper reviews the evidence for a CGRP- and SP-ergic innervation of the mammalian pineal gland and discusses the possible role of these neuropeptides with regard to pineal function. Microsc. Res. Tech. 46:305-309, 1999. r 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
1999-09-01Microscopy research and technique
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10469466