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Pinealocyte synaptic ribbons and neuroendocrine function
Author(s) -
McNulty John A.,
Fox Linda M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.1070210302
Subject(s) - pinealocyte , pineal gland , endocrinology , medicine , biology , receptor , agonist , function (biology) , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , melatonin
Abstract A comparative study of pinealocyte synaptic ribbons (SR) revealed two predominant populations exhibiting either a rod/ribbon shape (SR r ) or a spherical/punctate shape (SR sp ). Species‐specific differences were found in the abundance of SR, the ratio of SR r /SR sp , and the occurrence of SR in ribbon fields. The close topographical relationship of SR to the plasma membrane and the numerical changes that occurred with changes in metabolism of the pinealocytes suggest that SR have important vesicle‐mediated interactions with the cell membrane. Experiments designed to clarify the relationship between SR and pineal neuroendocrine function revealed a positive correlation between SR numbers and indole intermediates during pineal development in the rat, and increased SR frequency after denervation of the rat pineal gland or administration of the β‐adrenergic agonist, isoproterenol. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that SR function is linked to receptor mechanisms regulating indoleamine production in the pineal gland. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.