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Ultrastructure of the pineal gland of the eastern chipmunk ( Tamias striatus )
Author(s) -
Karasek Michal,
King Thomas S.,
Hansen John T.,
Reiter Russel J.
Publication year - 1982
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.1051730107
Subject(s) - pinealocyte , biology , ultrastructure , pineal gland , golgi apparatus , population , neuropil , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , endoplasmic reticulum , endocrinology , central nervous system , melatonin , demography , sociology
The ultrastructure of the pineal gland of the wild‐captured eastern chipmunk ( Tamias striatus ) was examined. A homogenous population of pinealocytes was the characteristic cellular element of the chipmunk pineal gland. Often, pinealocytes showed a folliclelike arrangement. Mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, granular endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, centrioles, dense‐core vesicles, clear vesicles, glycogen particles, and microtubules were consistent components of the pinealocyte cytoplasm. The extraordinary ultrastructural feature of the chipmunk pinealocyte was the presence of extremely large numbers of “synaptic” ribbons. The number of “synaptic” ribbons in this species exceeded by a factor of five to 30 times that found in any species previously reported. In addition to pinealocytes, the pineal parenchyma contained glial cells (oligodendrocytes and fibrous astrocytes). Capillaries of the pineal gland of the chipmunk consisted of a fenestrated endothelium. Adrenergic nerve terminals were relatively sparse.