Human pineal gland: Histomorphological study in different age groups and different causes of death

Abstract

IntroductionIn human, the age dependent changes in the micro-anatomy and histology of different organs are most prevalent along with causes of death. As pineal is a neuro-endocrine gland and is target of various hormones of physiological importance hence, the effect of age and different unnatural causes of death may affect its histology. This aspect of histomorphology has never been studied previously. Therefore, aim of the present study was to evaluate the changes in morphology and histology of human pineal gland in different age groups in relation to different causes of death. MethodsWe collected human samples from young (5–20 yrs), middle aged (21–55 yrs) and old aged (56–95 yrs) individuals under different causes of death like septicemia (S), poisoning (P), hanging (H), burning (B), injury (I) and other reasons which are regarded as control (C) and were processed for morphometric and histological observations. ResultsAnatomically significant decrease in pineal weight, length, breadth was noted in an age dependent manner. Histological observations suggest a significant increase in numbers as well as size in pineal concretions with increasing age. Further, huge degeneration of pinealocytes and neuronal glial cells was observed upon poisoning and burning cases in comparison to control. But in case of hanging, septicemia and injury there was no significant difference in comparison to control. DiscussionIt may be concluded that not only the age but also the different causes of death may severely affect the basic micro-architecture of human pineal gland.