File:Young Pineal Gland Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining (33496198968).jpg

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The pineal gland is about 8 mm in diameter, encased in a tightly adherent pia mater, divided into a number of connective tissues wrapped lobes. Small blood vessels may be visible in the septate spaces between the lobes. The pineal gland is largely composed of two cell types, better distinguished at higher magnifications. Roughly 95% of the pineal gland consists of pinealocytes, the cells that produce the hormone melatonin which works with the hypothalamus to regulate sleep wake cycles. Pinealocytes are arranged in small clusters or rosettes. They can be identified by their large, round, pale staining nuclei, surrounded by wide rims of light staining cytoplasm. In some preparations it may be possible to see long cytoplasmic processes extending from the pinealocytes into the septae.

Closely associated with the pinealocytes are supportive astrocytes with smaller darker nuclei and long cytoplasmic projections.

In some parts of the brain and notably the pineal gland, there are large irregularly shaped dark purple staining calcifications termed corpora arenacea or brain sand. These salts of calcium, magnesium and ammonium increase in size and number in the brain with aging but have no know function.
Date
Source Young Pineal Gland: Hematoxylin and Eosin Staining
Author Berkshire Community College Bioscience Image Library

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Creative Commons CC-Zero This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.
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This image was originally posted to Flickr by bccoer at https://flickr.com/photos/146824358@N03/33496198968 (archive). It was reviewed on 3 August 2019 by FlickreviewR 2 and was confirmed to be licensed under the terms of the cc-zero.

3 August 2019

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current19:52, 3 August 2019Thumbnail for version as of 19:52, 3 August 20193,264 × 1,840 (1.41 MB)Meisam (talk | contribs)Transferred from Flickr via #flickr2commons

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