Abstract
Mammalian pineal gland is known to often contain the calcified concretions (brain sand, corpora arenacea, acervuli, concrements), which biological significance, mineral and chemical composition are not full studied. Previous studies reported about chemistry, shape, size and structure of these biominerals from human and rodent pineal gland. The present study addresses to the morphology, mineral and chemical composition of calcified concretions in pineal gland of blue fox Vulpes lagopus L. (Mammalia: Carnivora). We used routine histological methods as well as scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive detector and Raman spectroscopy. Results suggest that the process of mineralization of pineal gland most likely is not age-associated. Our data concerning the location and mineral composition of calcium concretions in blue fox pineal gland are in agreement with those obtained by other researchers on rodent and human pineal glands. Calcified concretions were located in capsule, protruding septae and parenchyma of pineal gland. Two morphological types of concrements were distinguished including mulberry-like and irregular elongated structures. The acervuli of mulberry-like structure were presented by hydroxylapatite and calcite, and the irregular elongated aggregates were composed of only hydroxylapatite. The last one has not been previously recorded in the calcified concretions of the mammals. Present findings give the first insight into the morphology, mineral and chemical composition of calcium concrements in pineal gland of blue fox.
Highlights
Biogenic minerals, or biominerals, are the composite materials containing an organic matrix and nano- or micro-scale amorphous or crystalline minerals [Gilbert et al, 2005]
The reported findings give a first insight into the morphology, mineral and chemical properties of pineal calcified concretions in blue fox
The data concerning the mineral composition of calcium concretions in blue fox pineal are in agreement with those obtained by other researchers on rodent and human gland [Kodaka et al, 1994; Bacconier, Lang, 2004; Tofail et al, 2019]
Summary
Biominerals, are the composite materials containing an organic matrix and nano- or micro-scale amorphous or crystalline minerals [Gilbert et al, 2005]. The biomineral composite materials include bone, dentine, enamel, otoliths, pineal concrements, etc. The latter are called ‘brain sand’ (corpora arenacea, calcified concretions, acervuli), which is often detected in pineal glands of humans [Bocchi, Valdre, 1993; Maślińska et al, 2010; Kim et al, 2012] and many mammalian species [Lewinski et al, 1983; Vígh et al, 1998; Bulc et al, 2010]. The first type consists of single concretions with a concentric laminar structure marked by light and dark layers, while the second one is represented by a mulberry-like structure consisting of a large number of interconnected nodules [Kim et al, 2012]. Pineal concretions reach a size of 2–3 μm, forming conglomerates of up to 1 mm or more [Vigh et al, 1998; Bulc et al, 2010; Kim et al, 2012]
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