Search results for "Pineal gland"
showing 10 items of 143 documents
Light and drug induced changes of epiphysial synaptic ribbons.
1976
In the present investigation experiments were carried out to determine whether the functionally obscure synaptic rebbons of mammalian pinealocytes can be affected by acute changes in environmental lighting and which chemical processes may be involved in their regulation. Experiments carried out in male guinea-pigs have shown that the amounts of synaptic ribbons are immediately affected by changes in the lighting pattern. Extension of the light period reduced the normally occurring increase, whereas extension of the dark period inhibited the normally occurring decrease in the amount of synaptic ribbons. Results following injections of a number of drugs known to influence pineal function (nor…
Neuronal markers in the rodent pineal gland ? an immunohistochemical investigation
1990
Although some embryological and morphological features speak in favour of a neuronal character of rodent pinealocytes, histochemistry and ultrastructure let this issue appear controversial. Using antibodies to different neurofilaments, the neural adhesion molecule L1, synaptophysin and tubulin as neuronal markers, the pineal glands of rat and guinea-pig were studied by means of immunofluorescence. Neurofilament-immunoreactivity was present in some rat pineal nerve fibers and in the majority of guinea-pig pinealocytes, L1 decorated rat intrapineal nerve fibers, synaptophysin was almost ubiquitously distributed in the pineal of both species, while tubulin-immunofluorescence was seen in nerve …
Protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 immunoreactivity in nerve fibres and pinealocytes of guinea-pig pineal gland: interrelationship with tyrosine- hydroxy…
1993
This light-microscopic (LM) immunohistochemical study has evaluated the presence and distribution of the pan-neural and neuroendocrine marker protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 in pinealocytes and nerve fibres of guinea-pig pineal gland. The pattern of PGP 9.5-immunoreactive (ir) nerve fibres has been compared with that of fibres staining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) or neuropeptide Y (NPY). The vast majority of pinealocytes stained for PGP 9.5, although with variable intensity. PGP 9.5 immunoreactivity was localized in pinealocytic cell bodies and processes. Double-immunofluorescence revealed that PGP 9.5 immunoreactivity was absent from glial cells identified with a monoclonal antibody again…
Down-regulation of the nocturnally elevated guanylyl cyclase activity in the rat pineal gland
1995
Abstract Previous studies have shown that in the rat pineal, the cytosolic and the particulate forms of guanylyl cyclase (GC) activity undergo a biphasic 24-h rhythm with two prominent peaks, one in the middle of the light phase and the other in the middle of the dark phase. In this study we investigated whether the well established photo-neural adrenergic regulatory processes identified for pineal melatonin synthesis also apply to the nocturnal elevation of GC activity. A 10-min light pulse given in the middle of the dark phase decreases the cytosolic and the particulate forms of GC. Administration of the β-receptor blocker propranolol did not depress the nocturnally elevated GC activity. …
Structural dissimilarities in different regions of the pineal gland of Pirbright white guinea-pigs.
1982
In the present study, the proximal, intermediate and distal parts of dumbbell-shaped pineal glands of Pirbright White guinea-pigs were investigated with respect to structural dissimilarities. The most conspicuous difference was that while in the proximal part the pinealocytes were arranged in a random fashion, the intermediate and distal regions, except a small ventral area in the latter, exhibited a prominent follicular arrangement of the pinealocytes. Concretions were restricted to the subcapsular region of the intermediate part, whereas cells with hyperchromatic nuclei increased in number in an anterior-posterior direction. In males, pinealocyte nuclear size did not differ significantly …
Electrophysiological properties of rat pinealocytes: Evidence for circadian and ultradian rhythms
1984
Extracellular single-unit recordings were made during day- and night-time in the pineal gland of urethane-anesthetized adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. All cells exhibiting spontaneous electrical activity had firing frequencies from less than 1 Hz to about 100 Hz, and their discharge patterns were characterized as regular, irregular or bursting. While most of the spontaneously active cells (n = 163) showed a uniform activity level throughout the recording period (30-120 min), a group of 9 cells exhibited oscillatory rhythms with periods of 4-8 min. In addition, long-term recordings across day- and night-time from five cells revealed increasing activity during night-time in three cells, while…
Effects of an Earth-strength magnetic field on electrical activity of pineal cells
1980
Although magnetic fields can influence biological systems, including those of man and other vertebrates1–5, no central nervous structure has been identified that might be involved in their detection. From a theoretical point of view, the pineal organ might be such a structure for the following reasons: (1) It is involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms6 and is thus essential for migratory restlessness (‘Zugunruhe’)7. Orientation at that time can be altered by an artificial magnetic field (MF) with a direction differing by 90° from that of the Earth. Circadian rhythms can be inhibited from phase shifting by compensation of the Earth's MF and can be influenced by an artificial MF8. (2)…
Plasticity of synaptic ribbons of the rat pineal gland in vitro — Minor effects of electrical stimulation
2003
Synaptic ribbons (SRs) of mammalian pinealocytes exhibit day/night changes in number and size, changes that are apparently regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus via postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibres. Since the neural control of SR changes is far from clear and as pinealocytes produce action potentials, we undertook to investigate whether electrical stimulation affects SR changes. Isolated rat pineal glands removed during the daytime were kept in vitro for 0, 30, 60, 90 or 120 min, with or without continuous electrical stimulation (1 mA, 1 Hz), followed by the quantification of SR profiles (SRPs) by transmission electron microscopy. SRs were categorised as to whether they lay less t…
Evidence for the presence of two 24-h rhythms 180 degrees out of phase in the pineal gland of male Pirbright-White guinea pigs as monitored by counti…
1987
Previous studies have shown that the "synaptic" bodies of mammalian pinealocytes are a heterogeneous group of organelles. Whereas "synaptic" ribbons (SR) exhibit a day/night rhythm with small numbers during daytime and high numbers at night, the so-called "synaptic" spherules (SS) show species-specific differences in their rhythmicity. In the present study the numbers of SR and SS were monitored in male guinea pigs over a full 24-h period at 4-hourly intervals (LD 12:12, lights on at 7:00). The results obtained show that the rhythms of SR numbers and SS numbers are out of phase by 180 degrees. SR numbers are small during daytime and high at night, whereas SS numbers are high during daytime …
Day-night rhythm of acetylcholine in the rat pineal gland
1997
Abstract Using high-performance-liquid-chromatography (HPLC) measurement of acetylcholine, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) enzyme assay and anti-ChAT immunohistochemistry, we have investigated the expression of the cholinergic system in pineal glands of male rats. Glands procured during the day period (1200 h) contained significant amounts of acetylcholine (0.5 pmol/gland). A similar content was found in pineal glands after a 48 h culture period, i.e. when the intrapineal nerve fibres have degenerated. This strongly indicates that the pinealocytes are the cells which contain acetylcholine. To confirm this conclusion we demonstrate substantial ChAT-like immunoreactivity in pinealocytes. ChA…