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The pineal gland of the mole (Talpa europaea L.)

I. The fine structure of the pinealocytes

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Summary

The ultrastructure of the mole pinealocytes, a mammal which lives practically in complete darkness, has been examined and compared with that of other mammals. Mitochondria, ribosomes, smooth and granular endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes and lipid incluclusions are present in the perikaryon. The presence of a paracrystalline structure of a possibly proteinaceous nature in some cisterns of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and between the two layers of the nuclear membrane, is characteristic of the mole pinealocyte. The Golgi complex produces clear vesicles of 500–1500 Å in diameter. Occasionally, some dense core secretory vesicles were observed in the perikaryon and in the ending of cell processes. Their presumed origin from the Golgi complex could not yet be demonstrated. A large number of ciliary derivatives (9+0 pattern) are also present in the mole pinealocyte.

Résumé

Les pinéalocytes (au sens strict: Wolfe, 1965) de l'épiphyse de la Taupe (animal vivant pratiquement toujours dans une complète obscurité) examinés au microscope électronique, ont été comparés à ceux d'autres Mammifères. Dans le périkaryon des mitochondries, des ribosomes, du réticulum endoplasmique lisse et granulaire et quelques lysosomes et inclusions lipidiques sont présents. La présence à l'intérieur de certaines cavités du réticulum endoplasmique granulaire et parfois entre les deux feuillets de l'enveloppe nucléaire, de structures paracristallines (de nature protéique ?) est caractéristique des pinéalocytes de cet animal. L'appareil de Golgi sécréte des vésicules claires de 500 à 1500 Å de diamètre. Quelques très rares grains de sécrétion, dont l'origine golgienne n'a pas encore été démontré, ont été observé dans le périkaryon et à l'extrémité de certains prolongements. Un grand nombre de structures ciliaires (9+0 paires de tubules) ont également été observés dans les pinéalocytes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Netherlands Central Institute for Brain Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Paul Pevet

  2. Laboratoire de Physiologie Comparée, Poitiers, France

    Paul Pevet

  3. Service Genéral de Microscopie Electronique, appliquée à la Biologie, Poitiers, France

    Paul Pevet

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Pevet, P. The pineal gland of the mole (Talpa europaea L.). Cell Tissue Res. 153, 277–292 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00229159

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00229159

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