The Structure of Photoreceptor Cells in the Pineal Organ of the Japanese Common Newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster pyrrhogaster(Physiology)

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The pineal organ of the Japanese common newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster pyrrhogaster, is a flat organ situated on the dorsal surface of the diencephalon and consists of photoreceptor cells, supporting cells and neurons. Within the pineal organ, the outer segments of the photoreceptor cells protrude into the lumens. The outer segment is well-organized and resembles the lamellae of the cones found in the retina. The outer and inner segments are connected by a cilium and within the inner segment there are large numbers of mitochondria and a paraboloid-like concentration of glycogen granules. In the neuropile region, synapses between the basal processes of photoreceptor cells and neural dendrites characterized by synaptic ribbons are observed. The behavioral experiments have revealed that the pineal organ of the Japanese common newt could perceive light and was implicated in the entrainment of the locomotor activity rhythm. The present morphological studies also support the possibility that the pineal organ possesses these functions.
社団法人日本動物学会の論文