Ultrastructural characteristics and innervation of the pineal organ of the antarctic seal Leptonychotes weddelli

Abstract The electron microscopy of the epiphysis cerebri of the antarctic seal Leptonychotes weddelli revealed a highly organized organ. The general cytological characteristics of the pinealocytes and the glial cells are described. The capillary blood vessels are the nonfenestrated type. The organ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Morphology
Main Author: Cuello, Augusto Claudio
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1973
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1051410208
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjmor.1051410208
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/jmor.1051410208
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Summary:Abstract The electron microscopy of the epiphysis cerebri of the antarctic seal Leptonychotes weddelli revealed a highly organized organ. The general cytological characteristics of the pinealocytes and the glial cells are described. The capillary blood vessels are the nonfenestrated type. The organ is richly innervated by mainly unmyelinated nerve fibers. Most of the axons end in the inner part of the organ, around vessels, some of them in relation with pinealocytes. The significance of the findings is discussed.