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

• Published in: Journal of Morphology
• Main Author: Cuello, Augusto Claudio
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1973
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Leptonychotes weddelli
• 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

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.