104
JAMES CLAXCF, FENWICK
The presence of photosensory cells with central connections, the extensive vascularity, high metabolic activity, evidence for both external
and internal secretory activity, the pineal involvement in phototaxis, and
the diverse effects of pinealectomy on the pigmentary response and the
endocrine system together with the evidence for an active tryptophan
metabolism favor the view that the fish pineal body, far from being an
evolutionary vestige, is an important functional organ. While its small
size and simplicity do not indicate it is a visual receptor, it is sufficiently
sensory in appearance to suggest a role as a dosimeter of variations in
incident radiation. The pineal’s location and its sensory cum secretory
activity suggest that it is well adapted to play a part in the mediation of
light influences on the fish pituitary gland; furthermore, it could probably
control the pressure and/or composition of the cerebrospinal fluid. As
pointed out by Roth (1964), the phylogenetic trend toward a more
glandular structure in the higher vertebrates may reflect only a change
in the way the information reaches the pineal rather than a completely
unrelated change in function.
REFERENCES
Adam, H. (1956). Ventrikel und die Mikroskopische Struktur seiner Wande bei
Lampetru (Petromozon) fluviatilis L. und Myrine glutinosa L., nebst einigen
Bemerkungen iiber das Infundibularorgan von Branchiostom ( Amphioxus )
lunceolatum Pall. In “Progress in Neurobiology” (J. Ariens Kappers, ed. ), p. 146.
Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Adam, H. (1957). Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Hirnventrikel und des Ependyms bei
Cyclostmen. Anat. Anz. 103, 173-188.
Altner, H. ( 1965). Histologische und Histochemische Untersuchungen an der
Epiphyse von Haisen. Progr. Brain Res. 10, 145-171.
Ariens Kappers, J. (1964). Survey of the innervation of the pineal organ in
vertebrates. Am. Zoologist 4, 4757.
Ariens Kappers, J. (1965). Survey of the innervation of the epiphysis cerebri and
the accessory pineal organs of vertebrates. Progr. Brain Res. 10, 87-153.
Ariens Kappers, J., and SchadB, J. P., eds. (1965). “Structure and Function of the
Epiphysis Cerebri.” Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Axelrod, J., MacLean, P. D., Albers, R. W., and Weissback, H. W. (1960). Regional
distribution of methyl transferase enzymes in the nervous system and glandular
tissues. In “Regional Neurochemistry” ( S . S. Kety and J. Elkes, eds.), pp. 307311. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
Bargmann, W. ( 1943). Die Epiphysis Cerebri. In “Handbuch der mikroskopischen
Anatomie des Menschen” (W. von Mollendorf, ed.), Vol. 4, Part 4, pp. 310502. Springer, Berlin.
Boon, A. A. (1938). Comparative anatomy and physiopathology of the autonomic
hypothalamic centers. Actu Psychiat. Neurol. Scand. Suppl. 18, 1.
Breder, C. M., and Rasquin, P. (1947). Comparative studies in the light sensitivity
of blind characins from a series of Mexican caves. Am. Museum Nooitates 89,
325-351.
JAMES CLAXCF, FENWICK
The presence of photosensory cells with central connections, the extensive vascularity, high metabolic activity, evidence for both external
and internal secretory activity, the pineal involvement in phototaxis, and
the diverse effects of pinealectomy on the pigmentary response and the
endocrine system together with the evidence for an active tryptophan
metabolism favor the view that the fish pineal body, far from being an
evolutionary vestige, is an important functional organ. While its small
size and simplicity do not indicate it is a visual receptor, it is sufficiently
sensory in appearance to suggest a role as a dosimeter of variations in
incident radiation. The pineal’s location and its sensory cum secretory
activity suggest that it is well adapted to play a part in the mediation of
light influences on the fish pituitary gland; furthermore, it could probably
control the pressure and/or composition of the cerebrospinal fluid. As
pointed out by Roth (1964), the phylogenetic trend toward a more
glandular structure in the higher vertebrates may reflect only a change
in the way the information reaches the pineal rather than a completely
unrelated change in function.
REFERENCES
Adam, H. (1956). Ventrikel und die Mikroskopische Struktur seiner Wande bei
Lampetru (Petromozon) fluviatilis L. und Myrine glutinosa L., nebst einigen
Bemerkungen iiber das Infundibularorgan von Branchiostom ( Amphioxus )
lunceolatum Pall. In “Progress in Neurobiology” (J. Ariens Kappers, ed. ), p. 146.
Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Adam, H. (1957). Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Hirnventrikel und des Ependyms bei
Cyclostmen. Anat. Anz. 103, 173-188.
Altner, H. ( 1965). Histologische und Histochemische Untersuchungen an der
Epiphyse von Haisen. Progr. Brain Res. 10, 145-171.
Ariens Kappers, J. (1964). Survey of the innervation of the pineal organ in
vertebrates. Am. Zoologist 4, 4757.
Ariens Kappers, J. (1965). Survey of the innervation of the epiphysis cerebri and
the accessory pineal organs of vertebrates. Progr. Brain Res. 10, 87-153.
Ariens Kappers, J., and SchadB, J. P., eds. (1965). “Structure and Function of the
Epiphysis Cerebri.” Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Axelrod, J., MacLean, P. D., Albers, R. W., and Weissback, H. W. (1960). Regional
distribution of methyl transferase enzymes in the nervous system and glandular
tissues. In “Regional Neurochemistry” ( S . S. Kety and J. Elkes, eds.), pp. 307311. Pergamon Press, Oxford.
Bargmann, W. ( 1943). Die Epiphysis Cerebri. In “Handbuch der mikroskopischen
Anatomie des Menschen” (W. von Mollendorf, ed.), Vol. 4, Part 4, pp. 310502. Springer, Berlin.
Boon, A. A. (1938). Comparative anatomy and physiopathology of the autonomic
hypothalamic centers. Actu Psychiat. Neurol. Scand. Suppl. 18, 1.
Breder, C. M., and Rasquin, P. (1947). Comparative studies in the light sensitivity
of blind characins from a series of Mexican caves. Am. Museum Nooitates 89,
325-351.