Endocrine - Pineal Development

Introduction

Adult pineal body

Pineal gland position

• part of epithalmus - neurons, glia and pinealocytes
• pinealocytes secrete melatonin - cyclic nature of activity, melatonin lowest during daylight
  • inhibit hypothalamic secretion of GnRH until puberty, pineal gland then rapidly regresses.
• other activities - possibly gamete maturation, antioxidant effect, protect neurons?

Links: Endocrine System Development | Lecture - Endocrine Development | Lecture - Head Development | original page

Pineal Development

• Neuroectoderm - prosenecephalon then diencephalon
• caudal roof, median diverticulum, epiphysis
• Initially a hollow diverticulum, cell proliferation to solid, pinealocytes (neuroglia), cone-shaped gland innervated by epithalamus
  • epithalamus consists of the pineal gland and habenular nuclei

References

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Search April 2010

• Endocrine Development - All (14277) Review (4620) Free Full Text (3140)

Search Pubmed: pineal development

Additional Images

Adult Histology

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  Pineal (high power)

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 24) Embryology Endocrine - Pineal Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Endocrine_-_Pineal_Development

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© Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G