There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in between the mean surface areas of FMs obtained from each of these 3 methods used for estimating the area.

Disorders of the serotonergic system are especially known to be present in the neurobiology of suicidal behavior. Studies investigating melatonin levels show that changes in pineal gland functions may also play a role in the pathogenesis of suicide. However, to our knowledge, there are no studies evaluating the activity of pinealocytes responsible for melatonin synthesis in suicide. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the relationship among pinealocyte, acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT) immunoreactivity, and suicide. Samples of pineal gland, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and urine were obtained from 21 suicide and 21 non-suicide cases on which medicolegal autopsies were performed. Expression of ASMT in human pineal gland was evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. A scoring system was used to define the anti-ASMT-positive staining in the sections. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were employed to assess serum and cerebrospinal fluid melatonin levels and blood and urine noradrenaline levels. The ASMT-immunopositive pinealocyte count was observed to be lower in suicide cases compared to the non-suicide cases. With the exception of two cases (with moderate staining), all graded scores were 3 (strong staining) in non-suicide group, whereas scores were 1 (mild staining) or 2 (moderate staining) in the suicide group. Melatonin levels in the blood were lower among the suicide victims. These results support decreased pineal gland activity in suicide. However, further studies are needed to assess whether these changes are related to a psychiatric disorder.

The spread of the idea that the human body should be learned from cadavers, especially under the leadership of Vesalius, and the strong support of this idea among surgeons and medical students of that period, led to the emergence of anatomy theatres, particularly in the rich centres of Western Europe. Anatomy theatres have become prestigious places that make contributions to financial income for the cities they are located in. They have contributed to the importance of universities with the students they attract. Anatomy has become a more visual and international science because of the spread of anatomical drawings in scientific medical books, the newly invented printing press making it easier to print more books and the increasing interest of the people of the period. Learning medicine has become easier with the spread of visual anatomy books and cadaver studies. Cadaver studies and anatomy theatres, which started to become widespread under the leadership of brave science warriors such as Vesalius, who lived in the Renaissance period, became the subject of the paintings of painters of the period such as Rembrandt under the name anatomy activities. It is beneficial and necessary for society to keep in memory what this period brought to the world of anatomy and the present with its historical processes.