Autonomic nerves terminating on microvessels in the pineal organs of various submammalian vertebrates

Frank, Craig L.; Czirok, Szabina; Vincze, Csilla; Rácz, Gábor; Szél, Ágoston; Vígh, B.

doi:10.1556/abiol.56.2005.1-2.4

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…The histological structure of the goose pineal gland is similar to that observed by Wight et al [45]. Pineal microvessels can offer vascular support for circannual periodic changes in the metabolic activity of the pineal tissue [49]. During the peak egg-laying period, along with the prolongation of the photoperiod came a decrease in the number of blood vessels around the connective tissue capsule of the pineal gland, resulting in a reduced secretory capacity.…”

Section: Seasonal Changes In Morphologic Characteristics Of the Pinea...supporting

confidence: 77%

The Photoperiod-Driven Cyclical Secretion of Pineal Melatonin Regulates Seasonal Reproduction in Geese (Anser cygnoides)

Bao

Song

et al. 2023

IJMS

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The photoperiod is the predominant environmental factor that governs seasonal reproduction in animals; however, the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated. Herein, Yangzhou geese (Anser cygnoides) were selected at the spring equinox (SE), summer solstice (SS), autumn equinox (AE), and winter solstice (WS), and the regulation of seasonal reproduction via the light-driven cyclical secretion of pineal melatonin was investigated. We show that there were seasonal variations in the laying rate and GSI, while the ovarian area decreased 1.5-fold from the SS to the AE. Moreover, not only did the weight and volume of the pineal gland increase with a shortened photoperiod, but the secretory activity was also enhanced. Notably, tissue distribution further revealed seasonal oscillations in melatonin receptors (Mtnrs) in the pineal gland and the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis. The immunohistochemical staining indicated higher Mtnr levels due to the shortened photoperiod. Furthermore, the upregulation of aralkylamine N-acetyltransferase (Aanat) was observed from the SS to the AE, concurrently resulting in a downregulation of the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropins (GtHs). This trend was also evident in the secretion of hormones. These data indicate that melatonin secretion during specific seasons is indicative of alterations in the photoperiod, thereby allowing for insight into the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction via an intrinsic molecular depiction of external photoperiodic variations.

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Section: Seasonal Changes In Morphologic Characteristics Of the Pinea...supporting

confidence: 77%

The Photoperiod-Driven Cyclical Secretion of Pineal Melatonin Regulates Seasonal Reproduction in Geese (Anser cygnoides)

Bao

Song

et al. 2023

IJMS

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“…Peripheral nerves reach the pineal by conarian nerves alongside the great cerebral vein and by periarterial nerves. They run in the pineal meningeal tissue separating the lobular evaginations of the organ and terminate on vessels by vasomotor endings .…”

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confidence: 99%

Peripheral autonomic nerves of human pineal organ terminate on vessels, their supposed role in the periodic secretion of pineal melatonin

Silva

Singh

Haldar

et al. 2012

APMIS

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Nonvisual pineal and retinal photoreceptors are synchronizing circadian and circannual periodicity to the environmental light periods in the function of various organs. Melatonin of the pineal organ is secreted at night and represents an important factor of this periodic regulation. Night illumination suppressing melatonin secretion may result in pathological events like breast and colorectal cancer. Experimental works demonstrated the role of autonomic nerves in the pineal melatonin secretion. It was supposed that mammalian pineals have lost their photoreceptor capacity that is present in submammalians, and sympathetic fibers would mediate light information from the retina to regulate melatonin secretion. Retinal afferentation may reach the organ by central nerve fibers via the pineal habenulae as well. In our earlier works we have found that the pineal organ developing from lobular evaginations of the epithalamus differs from peripheral endocrine glands and is composed of a retina-like central nervous tissue that is comprised of cone-like pinealocytes, secondary pineal neurons and glial cells. Their autonomic nerves in submammalians as well as in mammalian animals do not terminate on pineal cells, rather, they run in the meningeal septa among pineal lobules and form vasomotor nerve endings. Concerning the adult human pineal there are no detailed fine structural data about the termination of autonomic fibers, therefore, in the present work we investigated the ultrastructure of the human pineal peripheral autonomic nerve fibers. It was found, that similarly to other parts of the brain, autonomic nerves do not enter the human pineal nervous tissue itself but separated by glial limiting membranes take their course in the meningeal septa of the organ and terminate on vessels by vasomotor endings. We suppose that these autonomic vasomotor nerves serve the regulation of the pineal blood supply according to the circadian and circannual changes of the metabolic activity of the organ and support by this effect the secretion of pineal neurohormones including melatonin.

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The pineal and reproduction of teleosts and other fishes

Falcón,

Muñoz-Cueto

2024

Hormones and Reproduction of Vertebrates, Volume 1

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Autonomic nerves terminating on microvessels in the pineal organs of various submammalian vertebrates

Cited by 3 publications

References 18 publications

The Photoperiod-Driven Cyclical Secretion of Pineal Melatonin Regulates Seasonal Reproduction in Geese (Anser cygnoides)

The Photoperiod-Driven Cyclical Secretion of Pineal Melatonin Regulates Seasonal Reproduction in Geese (Anser cygnoides)

Peripheral autonomic nerves of human pineal organ terminate on vessels, their supposed role in the periodic secretion of pineal melatonin

The pineal and reproduction of teleosts and other fishes

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