ISSN:
1432-0878
Keywords:
Baboon pineal gland
;
Microtubules
;
Synaptic ribbons
;
Circadian rhythm
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Summary In baboons kept under controlled lighting conditions, microtubules (MT) are readily seen in the perikaryal cytoplasm and in the perivascular processes of pinealocytes. A significant increase in the number of MT, single synaptic ribbons (SR) and the formation of synaptic ribbon fields (RF, i.e. organelles which consist of multiple dense rodlets or plates, and vesicles), occur during the dark phase of a circadian light-dark cycle. MT may act as “tracks” for the oriented flow of vesicles derived from the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, to cytoplasmic sites where RF are being formed. The origin of the dense rodlets of RF remains unknown. Structural differences between SR and RF indicate that the latter organelles are not directly involved in impulse propagation between adjacent baboon pinealocytes. RF may function as storage organelles for some of the pineal secretory products which are formed in large amounts during the dark phase.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00233590
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