title: Organ culture of the goldfish pineal body. An ultrastructural and biochemical study.
abstract: The ultrastructure and biochemistry of the goldfish pineal organ were examined in explants cultured for 1, 3, and 6 days. All four cell types (photoreceptor, supportive, ganglion, phagocytic) were identified; they exhibited many of the characteristics of these cells in vivo. Exceptions included a gradual disorganization of the outer segments and reduction of synaptic ribbons in photoreceptors with time in culture. In addition, there was a marked proliferation of endoplasmic reticulum in both photoreceptor and supportive cells. The indoles 5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, 5-methoxytryptophol, and melatonin were separated in explants by high performance liquid chromatography using electrochemical detection. Serotonin levels could be depleted by p-chlorophenylalanine and elevated by nialamide or by adding 5-hydroxytryptophan to the culture medium. These findings suggest that organ culture may be a useful model for study of regulatory processes related to the photoneuroendocrine functions of the teleost pineal organ.
mesh_terms: D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004848:Epithelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006054:Goldfish; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007211:Indoles / Q000032:analysis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008870:Microtubules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D012701:Serotonin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan