Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Development of serotonin-containing cells and the sympathetic innervation of the habenular region in the rat brain

A fluorescence histochemical study

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The cells of the pineal gland, the pineal stalk, and the lamina intercalaris contain 5-HT and are innervated by sympathetic nerve fibres. These peripheral nerve fibres continue rostrally from the lamina intercalaris and run into the central nervous tissue of stria medullaris and the habenular nuclei. Pharmacological treatment to increase the cellular 5-HT content revealed that the sympathetic fibres are in close relation to yellow fluorescent cells embedded in the brain tissue. These yellow fluorescent cells develop very late in the ontogenetic development (three weeks or more postnatally) and are preceded by ingrowth of sympathetic fibres into the brain tissue. The results support the hypothesis that the cells found in the habenular region are of pinealocyte rather than neuronal nature, but it is possible that they differ in certain aspects from the cells of the pineal gland proper.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aghajanian, G. K., Kuhar, M. J., Roth, R. H.: Serotonin-containing neuronal perikarya and terminals: differential effects of p-chlorophenylalanine. Brain Res. 54, 85–101 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ariëns Kappers, J.: The development, topographical relations and innervation of the epiphysis cerebri in the albino rat. Z. Zellforsch. 52, 163–215 (1960)

    Google Scholar 

  • Arstila, A. U.: Electron microscopic studies on the structure and histochemistry of the pineal gland of the rat. Neuroendocrinology, Suppl. 2, 1–101 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Axelrod, J., Wurtman, R. J.: Photic and neural control of indolamine metabolism in the rat pineal gland. Advanc. Pharmacol. 6A, 157–166 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bargmann, W.: Die Epiphysis cerebri. In: Handbuch der mikroskopischen Anatomie des Menschen, Bd. VI/4, S. 309–502, herausgeg. von W. v. Möllendorff. Berlin: Springer 1943

    Google Scholar 

  • Björklund, A., Falck, B., Owman, Ch.: Fluorescence microscopic and microspectrofluorometric techniques for the cellular localization and characterization of biogenic amines. In: Methods of investigative and diagnostic endocrinology, (ed. S. A. Berson), vol. 1. The thyroid and biogenic amines (eds. J. E. Rall, I. J. Kopin), p. 318–368. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ. Co. 1972

    Google Scholar 

  • Björklund, A., Nobin, A., Stenevi, U.: The use of neurotoxic dihydroxytryptamines as tools for morphological studies and localized lesioning of central indolamine neurons. Z. Zellforsch. 145, 479–501 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Björklund, A., Owman, Ch., West, K. A.: Peripheral sympathetic innervation and serotonin cells in the habenular region of the rat brain. Z. Zellforsch. 127, 570–579 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuxe, K.: Evidence for the existence of monoamine neurons in the central nervous system. IV. Distribution of monoamine nerve terminals in the central nervous system. Acta physiol. scand. 64, Suppl. 247, 37–85 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuxe, K., Hökfelt, T., Ungerstedt, U.: Localization of indolealkylamines in CNS. Advanc. Pharmacol. 6A, 235–251 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuxe, K., Jonsson, G.: A modification of the histochemical fluorescence method for the improved localization of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Histochemie 11, 161–166 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Håkanson, R., Lombard Des Gouttes, M.-N., Owman, Ch.: Activities of tryptophan hydroxylase, dopa decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase as correlated with the appearance of monoamines in developing rat pineal gland. Life Sci. 6, 2577–2585 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindvall, O., Björklund, A.: The organization of the ascending catecholamine neuron systems in the rat brain as revealed by the glyoxylic acid fluorescence method. Acta physiol. scand., Suppl. 412, 1–48 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindvall, O., Björklund, A., Nobin, A., Stenevi, U.: The adrenergic innervation of the rat thalamus as revealed by the glyoxylic acid fluorescence method. J. comp. Neurol. 154, 317–348 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Loizou, L. A.: The postnatal ontogeny of monoamine-containing neurones in the central nervous system of the albino rat. Brain Res. 40, 395–418 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Machado, C. R. S., Wragg, L. E., Machado, A. B. M.: A histochemical study of sympathetic innervation and 5-hydroxytryptamine in the developing pineal body of the rat. Brain Res. 8, 310–318 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, R. Y. (personal communication) 1974

  • Moore, R. Y., Klein, D.C.: Visual pathways and the central neural control of a circadian rhythm in pineal serotonin N-acetyltransferase activity. Brain Res. 71, 17–33 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, L., Seiger, Å.: Early prenatal ontogeny of central monoamine neurons in the rat: fluorescence histochemical observations. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 137, 301–316 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  • Owman, Ch.: Sympathetic nerves probably storing two types of monoamines in the rat pineal gland. Int. J. Neuropharmacol. 2, 105–112 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Quay, W. B.: Circadian rhythm in rat pineal serotonin and its modifications by estrous cycle and photoperiod. Gen. comp. Endocrinol. 3, 473–479 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Quay, W. B.: Histological structure and cytology of the pineal organ in birds and mammals. In: Progr. Brain Res. (eds. J. Ariëns Kappers, J. P. Schadé), vol. 10, Structure and function of the epiphysis cerebri, p. 49–84, 1965

  • Quay, W. B.: Pineal chemistry in cellular and physiological mechanisms. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas Publ. 1974

    Google Scholar 

  • Seiger, Å., Olson, L.: Late prenatal ontogeny of central monoamine neurons in the rat: fluorescence histochemical observations. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 140, 281–318 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, M. N., Reiter, R. J.: Observations on the pineal system in the hamster. I. Relations of the superficial and deep pineal to the epithalamus. J. Morph. 131, 153–162 (1970a)

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, M. N., Reiter, R. J.: Observations on the pineal system in the hamster. II. Fine structure of the deep pineal. J. Morph. 131, 163–178 (1970b)

    Google Scholar 

  • Trueman, T., Herbert, J.: Monoamines and acetyl-cholinesterase in the pineal gland and habenula of the ferret. Z. Zellforsch. 109, 83–100 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zweig, M. H., Snyder, S. H.: The development of serotonin and serotonin-related enzymes in the pineal gland of the rat. Comm. Behav. Biol. Part A, 1, 103–108 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Histology, University of Lund, Sweden

    Leif Wiklund

Authors
  1. Leif Wiklund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wiklund, L. Development of serotonin-containing cells and the sympathetic innervation of the habenular region in the rat brain. Cell Tissue Res. 155, 231–243 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221357

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221357

Key words

Search

Navigation