Human Pineal Gland Involutionary Process: New Findings

Olga Junemann; Inna Bukreeva; Dmitry A Otlyga; Alessia Cedola; Michela Fratini; Sergei V Saveliev

doi:10.1093/gerona/glad091

Human Pineal Gland Involutionary Process: New Findings

J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2023 Aug 27;78(9):1558-1560. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glad091.

Authors

Olga Junemann^{1

2}, Inna Bukreeva¹, Dmitry A Otlyga², Alessia Cedola¹, Michela Fratini^{1

3}, Sergei V Saveliev²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Nanotechnology-CNR, Rome, Italy.
² Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of FSBSI, Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, Moscow, Russian Federation.
³ Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy.

PMID: 36966358
DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glad091

Abstract

In this work, we report preliminary results about the involution of the human pineal gland involution. The detailed analysis of pineal structure was done on autopsy material of 77 persons in age 27-96 using x-ray phase-contrast tomography, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Our study suggests that the pineal gland alteration in older adults may be more profound than has been reported to date. We identified and described a new form of pineal gland involution that eventually led to the total degradation of the pineal gland. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report on the complete replacement of pineal gland parenchyma with connective tissue in older adults.

Keywords: Age-related changes; Calcification; Collagen; Cysts.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Autopsy
Cysts* / pathology
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Pineal Gland* / diagnostic imaging
Pineal Gland* / pathology