Summary
The influence of gonadotropic hormones on the ultrastructure of rat pinealocytes in short-term organ culture was studied. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), as well as pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG), caused a marked activation of pinealocytes. An hypothesis is discussed implying the presence of a feedback mechanism between the pineal organ and the hypothalamo-hypophysial system.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ariëns Kappers, J., Smith, A.R., De Vries, R.A.C.: The mammalian pineal gland and its control of hypothalamic activity. Prog. Brain Res. 41, 149–173 (1974)
Benson, B.: Current status of pineal peptides, Neuroendocrinol. 24, 241–258 (1977)
Benson, B., Mattews, M.J., Rodin, A.E.: Studies on a non-melatonin pineal antigonadotropin. Acta Endocrinol. (Kbh.) 69, 257–266 (1972)
Cole, H.H., Cupps, P.T.: Reproduction in domestic animals. New York: Academic Press 1959
Collin, J.P., Meiniel, A.: L'organe pineal. Etudes combinées ultrastructurales cytochimiques (monoamines) et expérimentales, chez Testudo mauritanica (L). Grains denses des cellules de la lignée “sensorielle” chez les Vertébrés. Arch. Anat. Microsc. Morphol. Exp. 60, 269–304 (1971)
Collin, J.P., Meiniel, A.: L'organe pinéal du genre Lacerta (Reptile, Lacertilien): action d'enzymes protéolytiques sur les grains denses (500–3400 Å) des photorécepteurs rudimentaires. C.R. Soc. Biol. (Paris) 166, 2–3 (1972)
Collin, J.P., Meiniel, A.: Métabolisme des indoleamines dans l'organe pinéal de Lacerta (Reptiles, Lacertiliens). I. Intégration selective de 5-HTP-3H (5-hydroxytryptophane-3H) et rétention de ses dérivés dans les photorécepteurs rudimentaires sécrétoires. Z. Zellforsch. 142, 549–570 (1973a)
Collin, J.P., Meiniel, A.: Métabolisme des indoleamines dans l'organe pinéal de Lacerta (Reptiles, Lacertiliens). II. L'activité MAO et l'incorporation de 5-HTP-3H et de 5-HT-3H dans les conditions normales et expérimentales. Z. Zellforsch. 145, 321–361 (1973b)
Collin, J.P., Calas, A., Juillard, M.T.: The avian pineal organ. Distribution of exogenous indoleamines: a quantitative study of rudimentary photoreceptor cells by electron microscopic autoradiography. Exp. Brain Res. 25, 15–33 (1976)
Dörner, G., Götz, H.G.: The follicle-stimulating and interstitial cell-stimulating activities of pregnant mare serum gonadotropin compared with those of other gonadotropins. J. Endocrinol. 39, 609–610 (1967)
Ebels, I., Citharel, A., Moszkowska, A.: Separation of pineal extracts by gel filtration. III. Sheep pineal factors acting either on the hypothalamus or on the anterior hypophysis of mice and rats in vitro experiments. J. Neural. Transm. 36, 281–302 (1975)
Juillard, M.T., Collin, J.P.: L'organe pinéal aviaire étude ultracytochimique et pharmacologique d'un “pool” granulaire de 5-hydroxytryptamine chez la perruche (Melopsittacus undulatus, Shaw). J. Microscopic Biol. Cell 26, 133–138 (1976)
Karasek, M.: Ultrastructure of the epiphysis in white rats under normal conditions and after hypophysectomy. Pol. Endocr. 22, 14–26 (1971)
Karasek, M.: The ultrastructure of the pineal body in organotypic culture. Folia Histochem. Cytochem. 11, 329–330 (1973)
Karasek, M.: Ultrastructure of rat pineal gland in organ culture; influence of norepinephrine, dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3′, 5′-monophosphate and adenohypophysis, Endocrinologie 64, 106–114 (1974)
Karasek, M.: Szyszynka. Warszawa: PZWL 1976
Karasek, M., Marek, K.: Influence of gonadotropic hormones on the ultrastructure of rat pinealocytes. Cell Tissue Res. 188, 133–141 (1978)
Karasek, M., Pawlikowski, M., Ariëns Kappers, J., Stepień, H.: Influence of castration followed by administration of LH-RH on the ultrastructure of rat pinealocytes. Cell Tissue Res. 167, 325–339 (1976)
Minneman, K.P., Wurtman, R.J.: Effects of pineal compounds on mammals. Life Sci. 17, 1189–1200 (1975)
Moszkowska, A., Ebels, I.: The influence of the pineal body on the gonadotropic function of the hypophysis. J. Neuro-Visc. Rel., Suppl. 10, 160–176 (1971)
Moszkowska, A., Hus-Citharel, A., L'Heritier, A., Evels, I.: Separation of pineal extracts by gel filtration. V. Location by paper chromatography of a sheep pineal principle inhibiting hypophyseal gonadotropic activity. J. Neural. Transm. 38, 239–247 (1976)
Orts, R.J., Benson, B.: Inhibitory effects on serum and pituitary LH by a melatonin-free extract of bovine pineal glands. Life Sci. 12, 513–518 (1973)
Orts, R.J., Benson, B., Cook, B.F.: LH inhibitory properties of aqueous extracts of rat pineal glands. Life Sci. 14, 1501–1510 (1974)
Petit, A.: Contribution á l'étude de l'épiphyse des Reptiles: le complexe épiphysaire des Lacertiliens et l'épiphyse des Ophidiens. Etude embryologique, structurale, ultrastructurale; analyse qualitative et quantitative de la sérotonine dans des conditions normales et expérimentales. Thèse. Strasbourg 1976
Pevet, P.: The pineal gland of the mole (Talpa europaea L.). I. The fine structure of the pinealocytes. Cell Tissue Res. 153, 277–292 (1974)
Pevet, P.: Correlations between pineal gland and sexual cycle. Thesis, Amsterdam 1976
Pevet, P.: The pineal gland of the mole (Talpa europaea L.). IV. Effect of pronase on material present in cisternae of the granular endoplasmic reticulum of pinealocytes. Cell Tissue Res. 182, 215–219 (1977)
Pevet, P., Karasek, M.: Are the pineal active compounds of mammals proteinaceous in nature? — An ultrastructural contribution. Acta Med. Pol. 18, 351–353 (1977)
Pevet, P., Saboureau, M.: L'épiphyse du Hérisson (Erinaceus europaeus, L.) mâle. I. Les pinéalocytes et leurs variations ultrastructurales considérées au cours du cycle sexuel. Z. Zellforsch. 143, 367–385 (1973)
Pevet, P., Ariëns Kappers, J., Nevo, E.: The pineal gland of the mole-rat (Spalax ehrenbergi, Nehring). I. The fine structure of pinealocytes. Cell Tissue Res. 174, 1–24 (1976)
Pevet, P., Ariëns Kappers, J., Voûte, A.M.: The pineal gland of nocturnal mammals. I. The pinealocytes of the bat (Nyctalus noctula, Schreber). J. Neural. Transm. 40, 47–68 (1977)
Quay, W.B.: Pineal Chemistry. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas 1974
Reiter, R.J.: Involvement of pineal indoles and polypeptides with the neuroendocrine axis. Prog. Brain Res. 39, 281–286 (1973)
Reiter, R.J.: Pineal-anterior pituitary relationships. In: MTP International Review of Science. Physiology series one. Vol. 5. Endocrine physiology (S.M. McCann, ed.), pp. 277–308. London: Butterworths 1974
Sheridan, M.N., Keppel, J.F.: The effect of p-chlorophenylalanine (PCPA) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6- HD) on ultrastructural features of hamster pineal parenchyma. Anat. Rec. 169, 427 (1971)
Sheridan, M.N., Reiter, R.J.: Observation in the pineal system in the hamster. II. Fine structure of the deep pineal. J. Morph. 131, 163–171 (1970)
Vivien, J.H.: Signes de stimulation des activités sécretoires des pinéalocytes chez la couleuvre Tropidonotus natrix L. traitée par des principes gonadotropes. C.R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 260, 5371–5372 (1965)
Vivien-Roels, B.: L'épiphyse des Chéloniens. Étude embryologique, structurale, ultrastructurale; analyse qualitative et quantitative de la sérotonine dans des conditions normales et expérimentales. Thèse. Strasbourg 1976
Yogo, I.: Biological properties of human chorionic gonadotropin. Endocrinol. Jpn. 16, 215–226 (1969)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Karasek, M., Marek, K. & Kunert-Radek, J. Ultrastructure of rat pinealocytes in vitro: Influence of gonadotropic hormones and LH-RH. Cell Tissue Res. 195, 547–556 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233896
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00233896