Pinealocyte

About: Pinealocyte is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1605 publications have been published within this topic receiving 55609 citations.

The pineal gland of the gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus. I. An ultrastructural study.

Abstract: Electron microscopy was employed in a study of the pineal gland of the Mongolian gerbil (Meiones unguiculatus). It was determined that the gerbil pineal gland contains pinealocytes and glial cells with the pinealocytes being the predominant cell type. The pinealocytes contain numerous organelles traditionally considered as being either synthetic or secretory in function such as an extensive Golgi region, smooth (SER) and rough (RER) endoplasmic reticulum, secretory vesicles and microtubules. Other cytoplasmic components are also present in the pinealocytes (synaptic ribbons, subsurface cisternae) for which no function has been assigned. Dense-cored vesicles are rare. Vacuolated pinealocytes are present and appear to be intimately associated with the formation of the pineal concertions. Evidence presented supports the proposal that the concretions form within the vacuoles. Once the concretions reach an enlarged state, the vacuolated pinealocytes break down and the concretions are thus extruded into the extracellular space where they apparently continue to increase in size. The morphology of the glial cells was interpreted as indicative of a high synthetic activity. The glial cells contain predominantly the rough variety of endoplasmic reticulum and form an expansion around the wide perivascular area.

Effect of denervation on 'synaptic' ribbon populations in the rat pineal gland

Abstract: The formation of pineal ‘synaptic’ ribbons (SR) may be directly related to the adrenergic innervation of the gland. In order to clarify this relationship, SR populations at various times from 12 h to 14 days after pineal denervation were morphometrically analysed by electron microscopy. Pineal denervation was accomplished by bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy. A decrease in nocturnal pineal SR numbers, indicating a reduction in SR formation, was demonstrated 12 to 24 h after pineal denervation. Seventy-two hours after ganglionectomy SR numbers were comparable with those in nocturnal intact and sham-operated controls. Thereafter, 7 and 14 days after ganglionectomy, SR numbers exceeded nocturnal intact and sham-operated controls. Administration of isoproterenol, a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist, 24 h after denervation significantly increased SR numbers over those in untreated rats denervated 24 h earlier. Thus SR formation remained responsive to adrenergic receptor stimulation in the absence of an intact adrenergic innervation. Further, the increase in SR numbers following subacute (7 to 14 days) denervation indicated that SR formation was not dependent on an intact innervation or the presence of endogenous (pineal) norepinephrine. On the basis of these results, we suggest that SR formation may be related structurally as well as functionally to adrenergic receptors on the rat pinealocyte.

Selective protection of the cerebellum against intracerebroventricular LPS is mediated by local melatonin synthesis.

Abstract: Although melatonin is mainly produced by the pineal gland, an increasing number of extra-pineal sites of melatonin synthesis have been described. We previously demonstrated the existence of bidirectional communication between the pineal gland and the immune system that drives a switch in melatonin production from the pineal gland to peripheral organs during the mounting of an innate immune response. In the present study, we show that acute neuroinflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injected directly into the lateral ventricles of adult rats reduces the nocturnal peak of melatonin in the plasma and induces its synthesis in the cerebellum, though not in the cortex or hippocampus. This increase in cerebellar melatonin content requires the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), which positively regulates the expression of the key enzyme for melatonin synthesis, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT). Interestingly, LPS treatment led to neuronal death in the hippocampus and cortex, but not in the cerebellum. This privileged protection of cerebellar cells was abrogated when G-protein-coupled melatonin receptors were blocked by the melatonin antagonist luzindole, suggesting that the local production of melatonin protects cerebellar neurons from LPS toxicity. This is the first demonstration of a switch between pineal and extra-pineal melatonin production in the central nervous system following a neuroinflammatory response. These results have direct implications concerning the differential susceptibility of specific brain areas to neuronal death.

Acetylcholine Triggers l-Glutamate Exocytosis via Nicotinic Receptors and Inhibits Melatonin Synthesis in Rat Pinealocytes

Abstract: Rat pinealocytes, melatonin-secreting endocrine cells, contain peripheral glutaminergic systems. L-Glutamate is a negative regulator of melatonin synthesis through a metabotropic receptor-mediated inhibitory cAMP cascade. Previously, we reported that depolarization of pinealocytes by externally added KCl and activation of L-type Ca2+ channels resulted in secretion of L-glutamate by microvesicle exocytosis. What is unknown is how and what kinds of stimuli trigger glutamate exocytosis under physiological conditions. Here, we report that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor can trigger glutamate exocytosis from cultured rat pinealocytes. Moreover, acetylcholine or nicotine inhibited norepinephrine-dependent serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity, which results in decreased melatonin synthesis. These activities were blocked by (2S,3S, 4S)-2-methyl-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine, an antagonist of the metabotropic glutamate receptor. These results suggest that cholinergic stimulation initiates the glutaminergic signaling cascade in pineal glands and that parasympathetic neurons innervating the gland exert negative control over melatonin synthesis by way of the glutaminergic systems.

Circadian rhythm in the number of granulated vesicles in the pinealocytes of mice. Effects of sympathectomy and melatonin treatment.

Abstract: Adult, Charles River CD-1, male mice were housed in an environmental control chamber under strict conditions of controlled light (12D/12L) and temperature. The mice were sacrificed at various times throughout the twenty-four hour clock and their pineals prepared routinely for electron microscopy. The number of dense-cored or granulated vesicles present in the polar terminals of pinealocytes were quantitated in thin cross sections through pericapillary areas. A distinct circadian rhythm was observed in the number of granulated vesicles with a three- to four-fold difference between late photoperiod maximum and late dark period minimum. The rhythm was abolished by bilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the granulated vesicles are synthesized and stored in the pinealocytic cytoplasm during the photoperiod under the tropic influence of norepinephrine, and are released during the dark period when melatonin synthesis is greatest. Melatonin, administered as daily intraperitoneal doses of 50 μg over a period of five days, was observed to increase markedly the number of pinealocytic granulated vesicles during the light period, but led during the dark period to a decrease in their numbers to levels below that of diluent-treated controls. It may be that melatonin stimulates the synthesis and/or release of granulated vesicles which represent the packaged form of a major secretory product.