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Pineal “synaptic” ribbons and spherules during the estrous cycle in rats

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Summary

In previous studies pineal “synaptic” ribbons have been shown to undergo striking numerical changes under various physiological and experimental conditions and to be regulated by β-adrenergic mechanisms. The aim of the present investigation was to study the numbers of pineal “synaptic” ribbons and spherules in Wistar rats throughout the estrous cycle and to compare them with those in males. There were no statistically significant differences in the numbers of ribbons and spherules between males and females and in the females at the different stages of the estrous cycle, indicating that the structures in question, in vivo, do not appear to be regulated by naturally occurring changes of sex steroid hormones and gonadotrophins.

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Author notes

  1. B. Kosaras

    Present address: Department of Anatomy, University Medical School, Pécs, Hungary

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany

    B. Kosaras, H. A. Welker & L. Vollrath

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  1. B. Kosaras
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  2. H. A. Welker
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  3. L. Vollrath
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Supported by grant Vo 135/7 from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft within the Schwerpunktprogramm Neuroendokrinologie

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Kosaras, B., Welker, H.A. & Vollrath, L. Pineal “synaptic” ribbons and spherules during the estrous cycle in rats. Anat Embryol 166, 219–227 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00305084

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