Indications for a central innervation of the bovine pineal gland with substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers.
An antiserum, raised in rabbits, against substance P was used in an immunohistochemical investigation of the bovine pineal gland. A moderate innervation of all parts of the bovine pineal gland with substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers was demonstrated. The immunoreactive nerve fibers were located throughout the pineal gland, both perivascularly, intraparenchymally, and with few fibers in the pineal capsule. Within the habenular nucleus, a large number of substance substance P-immunoreactive perikarya were present. From these perikarya processes extended towards the pineal stalk and gland. Some substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers were located in the stria medullaris and in the posterior commissure. The anatomical location of the substance P-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the pineal gland and stalk strongly indicates that, in this species, substance P-immunoreactive pinealopetal nerve fibers originate from perikarya in the brain, probably from the medial habenular nucleus.
Møller
M
M
Institute of Medical Anatomy, Department B, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Phansuwan-Pujito
P
P
Govitrapong
P
P
Schmidt
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology; D002417:Cattle; D006801:Humans; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000166:cytology; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis*
D013373:Substance P