Age-Related Changes of the Pineal Gland in Humans: A Digital Anatomo-Histological Morphometric Study on Autopsy Cases with Comparison to Predigital-Era Studies.
Background and objectives: The pineal gland is a photoneuroendocrine organ in the midline of the brain, responsible primarily for melatonin synthesis. It is composed mainly of pinealocytes and glial tissue. This study examined human postmortem pineal glands to microscopically assess age-related changes using digital techniques, and offers a perspective on evolutionary tendencies compared to the past. Materials and Methods: A retrospective autopsy study has been performed on 72 pediatric and adult autopsy cases. The glands have been processed for histological analysis and immunohistochemical staining with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Slides were assessed under polarized light and digitally scanned. Morphometric data were obtained using CaseViewer and ImageJ. Results: Thirty-three females and 39 males were included in the study, grouped under three age groups: 0-25, 46-65, and 66-96 years of age. The peak gland volume was found within the 46-65 age group, the overall mean volume was 519 mm3, the main architectural types were lobular and insular, and the mean percentage of pineal calcification was 15% of the gland, peaking within the 66-96 age group, with a predominantly globular shape. Glial cysts were found in 20.8% of cases. The intensity of GFAP stain was maximal in the pediatric age group, but the extent of glial tissue was much larger in elderly patients. Discussion: The degenerative process of the pineal gland can be quantified by measuring normal parenchyma, calcifications, glial tissue, and glial cysts. Morphometric differences have been observed and compared to a similar studies performed in the published literature. The current study, unfortunately, lacks a 26-45 age group. Digital techniques seemed to offer a more exact analysis, but returned similar results to studies performed over 40 years ago, therefore offering important information on evolutionary tendencies. Conclusions: Increase in glial tissue, calcifications, and glial cysts have a defining role as age-related changes in the pineal gland.
['Gheban|Bogdan-Alexandru|BA|0000-0002-7163-5930', 'Colosi|Horațiu Alexandru|HA|', 'Gheban-Rosca|Ioana-Andreea|IA|', 'Pop|Bogdan|B|', 'Domșa|Ana-Maria Teodora|AT|', 'Georgiu|Carmen|C|', 'Gheban|Dan|D|0000-0002-0755-2882', 'Crișan|Doinița|D|', 'Crișan|Maria|M|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001344:Autopsy D001921:Brain D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D008297:Male D010870:Pineal Gland D012189:Retrospective Studies D013194:Staining and Labeling D055815:Young Adult
pineal gland autopsy histology calcifications anatomy immunohistochemistry morphometry