THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE PINEAL GLAND OF THE INDIGENOUS POPULATION OF THE YAKUTIA IN THE AGE ASPECT

Abstract

The pineal gland is a functionally light-dependent organ located in different conditions depending on living in different latitudes. Insufficient data on the morphological and functional state of the human pineal gland under various living conditions constitute a significant gap in the study of the pineal gland. A morphological study of the epiphysis of the indigenous population of different age groups was carried out, obtained during of autopsies on in the pathology department of the National Center of Medicine of Yakutsk (Republic of Sakha). The methods of morphometric analysis with the calculation of indicators of the area of pinealocyte karyons and the quantitative assessment of pineal gland parenchyma cells were used. The data obtained show age-related changes in morphological and functional activity, including changes in the size of light and dark cell karyons in the oldest age group. The largest deviations were observed among dark cells, probably indicating their transition and replenishment of active secreting pinealocytes against the background of a general decrease in the number of cells associated with fibrosis and organ calcification. In the group of 6069 years old, there is an increase in the number of gliocytes, significant compared with the younger age group. In the group of the oldest age, a sharp decrease in their number is noted. Age-related morphological and functional changes in the pineal gland in the indigenous population of Yakutia are most evident at the age of 60-69 and include signs of a decrease in the functional activity of pinealocytes, progressive calcification of the pineal gland, accumulation of neural pigment and proliferation of connective tissue, with the formation of a stromal type of structure.