A morphological study of human pineal gland in post-mortem cases

Harisha, K.; Arava, Sudhir; Singh, Swarandeep; Pariplavi, Mokkapati

doi:10.1016/j.morpho.2022.06.095

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Interestingly, an increase in both the quantity and variety of pineal gland calculi has been observed with advancing age, with the emergence of concentric lamellar structures resembling growth rings. Research has suggested a correlation between the number of layers in these lamellar structures and the age of the individual, implying a relationship between the formation of concentric layers and periodic changes in pineal gland calcification levels (Harisha et al, 2023). Calculi found in the pineal gland of children differs from that found in adults.…”

Section: Various Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pineal gland, often referred to as the "third eye", is red-gray, pea-like, typically 6-10 mm long, 5-6 mm wide, and weighs between 50 and 150 mg (Harisha, Arava, Singh, & Pariplavi, 2023). The pineal gland is mainly composed of the parenchyma formed by pinealocytes, connective tissue and glial tissue dominated by astrocytes (Lee, Ng, Lian, Yap, & Chuah, 2011).…”

Section: Pineal Glandmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pineal gland, recognized as a neuroendocrine transducer, acts as a "circadian clock" regulating physiological and behavioral processes, converting neural signals from the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus into various hormones that play an important role in different organs (thyroid, neurohypophysis, etc.) (Harisha et al, 2023). The primary role of the pineal gland is the secretion https://doi.org/10.37819/hb.4.1790 Human Brain (2023) 2(4) | 3 and release of melatonin, a hormone directly linked to light exposure and regulated by the circadian rhythm (Rosenstein, Estévez, & Cardinali, 1989).…”

Section: Pineal Glandmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Exploring Links between Pineal Gland Calcification and Central Nervous System Disease

Liu,

Liu

2023

Human Brain

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Central nervous system disease is globally common with dysfunction of the brain and spinal cord, which significantly affects the quality of life, such as sleep disturbances. Pineal gland is pivotal in regulating sleep cycles and circadian rhythms. And melatonin, secreted by pineal gland, promotes neurodevelopment and maintains neurohomeostasis, which is also pivotal in the modulation of central nervous system disorders. In recent years, studies have found that patients with central nervous system damage often have degeneration of the pineal gland, characterized by a decrease in pineal gland volume, reduced melatonin secretion, and even parenchymal calcification. An increasing number of Alzheimer's disease patients have been observed to exhibit pineal gland calcification. Research suggests that sleep disturbances accompanying central nervous system disorders can be attributed to the degeneration of pineal gland function, indicating a potential contribution of gland calcification to central nervous system diseases. Here, we review the recent research on pineal gland calculi and discuss the potential relationship between pineal gland calcification and various central nervous system diseases, contributing to a deeper understanding of the intricate mechanisms underlying neurological disorders.

show abstract

Section: Various Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Pineal Glandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Pineal Glandmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Exploring Links between Pineal Gland Calcification and Central Nervous System Disease

Liu,

Liu

2023

Human Brain

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Cross-sectional analysis of potential risk factors of the pineal gland calcification

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Pineal gland (PG) is the site of production of melatonin as an important central hormone in the body. It is not known yet whether PG calcification (PGC) is an age-associated physiological process or a pathologic condition caused by lifestyle-factors and metabolic-dysregulations.Here, we performed a cross-sectional analysis on 586 patients referred to have Computed Tomographic (CT) scans (above 15 years old), in the Ali Ebne Abi Taleb hospital radiology center in 2017–2018. Based on the CT-scans of the brain, the presence of PGC was recorded and a score of scale 0 to 6 (PGC_score) was calculated for its intensity based on the volume and the Hounsfield units of the calcified pineal. Logistic and ordered logistic regression tests were employed to determine potential risk factor of PGC and higher PGC_score, respectively, testing the factors age, sex, history of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, smoking and opioid use. We found male sex (OR: 2.30 (95% CI:1.39–3.82) and smoking cigarettes (OR: 4.47 (95% CI:1.01–19.78)) as the main potential risk factors for the pineal gland calcification. For PGC_score, we found age to be dose-dependently associated with PGC_score only in patients aged below 63 (p-trend < 0.001). Stratifying for age, in patients < 63 years old, we found age, male sex (positive association) and dyslipidemia (negative association) as the main significantly associated factors of PGC_score. On the contrary, in patients aged > = 63, cigarette smoking was the only significantly associated factor of higher PGC_score.In conclusion, our results indicate that at ages below 63, age, male sex and blood lipid are the main associated factors of higher PGC, but at ages above that, the lifestyle factor smoking is significantly associated with higher pineal gland calcification.

show abstract

Morphology of the Human Pineal Gland Studied by Freeze-Fracturing in Scanning Electron Microscopy

Polakovičová,

Líška,

Varga

et al. 2024

Life

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The human pineal gland is the largest producer of the hormone melatonin. Pineal acervuli (brain sand), calcified concretions in the pineal gland, have long been studied because of their association with ageing, melatonin production, and neurological disorders. The solid inorganic matter of the hydroxyapatite crystals often renders sample sectioning impossible, to the extent that the sections lose value. Technically, freeze-fracturing has revealed the detailed structure and cell relationships without tissue damage. In our electron microscopic study, samples of the human pineal gland were obtained during autopsy from 20 donors with mean age 69 years. Samples underwent freeze-fracturing and standard histological procedures, and were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in high vacuum. Based on our results, freeze-fracturing enabled identification of a mulberry-like acervulus topography. The acervuli were situated in specific “nest-like” structures, which were surrounded by pinealocytes, interstitial cells, and nerve fibres. A fractured surface of the intrapineal acervuli exhibited a regular lamellar structure. Freeze-fracturing the pineal gland and imaging by SEM enabled complex structural analysis. This approach permits viewing the surface acervuli spherical and internal lamellar architecture. Our results confirmed that the parenchyma of this small but important gland contains two types of acervuli, depending on their size: non-aggregated and aggregated. We propose to include these forms of acervuli in the new edition of the Terminologica Histologica. In conclusion, pineal gland freeze-fracturing by SEM is suitable for complex structural analysis. Our description of our methods can be a guide for other scientists who want to study the pineal gland with electron microscopy methods.

show abstract

A morphological study of human pineal gland in post-mortem cases

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Exploring Links between Pineal Gland Calcification and Central Nervous System Disease

Exploring Links between Pineal Gland Calcification and Central Nervous System Disease

Cross-sectional analysis of potential risk factors of the pineal gland calcification

Morphology of the Human Pineal Gland Studied by Freeze-Fracturing in Scanning Electron Microscopy

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About