“Synaptic” ribbons and spherules of the rat pineal gland: Day/night changes in vitro?

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Abstract
In the present study pineal glands of rats aged 69–71 days were studied in vivo and in vitro with respect to day/night changes of “synaptic” ribbons and spherules. It was found that ribbons outnumber spherules by a factor of 3. In vivo, both ribbons and spherules show a roughly 3-fold increase in number at 1 a.m. when compared to 1 p.m. Up to 39 h in vitro, the two structures in question did not reveal day/night differences in amount, suggesting that diurnal rhythmicity of the gland did apparently not persist in organ culture. After 3 h in organ culture, the spherules, but not the ribbons, showed a striking increase in number, showing that ribbons and spherules may be governed by different mechanisms.