Seasonal variations in the cerebrospinal fluid-contacting area of the pineal gland in the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus).
The cerebrospinal fluid-contacting area in the pineal recess of the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) has been investigated light and electron microscopically. The results reveal that in this area the ventricular surface is composed of glial cell processes and protruding pinealocytes. The relative extent of these two components varies considerably and seems to be related to the season of the year: Morphometric analysis shows that in June, the mean size of the total cerebrospinal fluid-contracting area and, in addition, the relative extent of the area occupied by protruding pinealocytes is significantly larger than in November. The physiological significance of this finding remains to be determined.
D000818:Animals; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006224:Cricetinae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012621:Seasons