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The pineal‐paraphyseal complex of sea turtles. I. Light microscopic description
Author(s) -
Owens David W.,
Ralph Charles L.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1051580204
Subject(s) - biology , anatomy , duct (anatomy) , pineal gland , cell type , lumen (anatomy) , cell , microbiology and biotechnology , neuroscience , melatonin , genetics
The pineal‐paraphyseal complex of sea turtles is an impressively large structure which projects dorsally and anteriorly above the prosencephalon. The complex was examined by light microscopy in several age classes of green sea turtles ( Chelonia mydas ) and from juvenile loggerhead turtles ( Caretta caretta ). The paraphysis is extensively fused to the distal portion of the pineal body, suggesting an interrelated function for these two tissues. No duct or canal was observed connecting the pineal lumen to the third ventricle. Two pineal cell types are described which appear to correspond to the neuroglial supportive cells and the secretory rudimentary photoreceptor cells of other amniotic vertebrates. A possible luminal secretion in the form of apical protrusions is produced by the latter cell type. No typical photoreceptive outer segments were observed.