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PMID: 991256 Published · ppublish English Journal Article

The pineal gland of the mole-rat (Spalax ehrenbergi, Nehring). I. The fine structure of pinealocytes.

Cell and tissue research ·Vol. 174 ·No. 1 ·1976-10-22 ·Pages 1-24

Pevet P, Kappers JA, Nevo E

Abstract

The ultrastructure of pinealocytes of the mole-rat (Spalax ehrenbergi), a blind subterranean mammal living in complete darkness, was examined and compared with pinealocytes of other mammals. Two different populations of pinealocytes (I and II) were observed. They differed in general aspect. In location and especially in their content of cell organelles involved in synthetic processes. Mitochondria, ribosomes, granular endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, lipid inclusions and glycogen granules were present in the perikarya of pinealocytes of both populations. In the pinealocyte of population I some granular vesicles were occasionally observed in the cell body. Their presumed origin from the Golgi apparatus could not be clearly demonstrated. In the perikaryon of this pinealocyte, concentrations of ribosomes and of cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum were constantly observed. These concentrations may indicate an intensive synthetic activity. Pinealocytes of population II were characterized by accumulations of proteinaceous material in some cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and between the two layers of the nuclear membrane. The origin of these peculiar elements is discussed.

MeSH Terms
Animals Darkness Endoplasmic Reticulum/ultrastructure Female Male Microscopy, Electron Nerve Tissue Proteins/biosynthesis Pineal Gland/metabolism,ultrastructure Rodentia/anatomy & histology
Chemicals
Nerve Tissue Proteins
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Pevet P
Kappers J A
Nevo E
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66 references, click to expand
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Article Info
Journal
Cell and tissue research
Abbr.
Cell Tissue Res
ISSN
0302-766X
DOI
10.1007/BF00222147
Published
1976-10-22
Pages
1-24
Language
English
Region
Germany
NLM ID
0417625
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1007/BF00222147 View journal details
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